“Bringing on the light” in a complex clinical scenario: Optical coherence tomography–guided discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy in cancer patients with coronary artery disease (PROTECT-OCT registry)
Background Cancer patients with recently placed drug-eluting stents (DESs) often require premature dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) discontinuation for cancer-related procedures. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can identify risk factors for stent thrombosis such as stent malapposition, incomplete strut coverage and in-stent restenosis and may help guide discontinuation of DAPT. Methods We conducted a single-center prospective study in cancer patients with recently placed (1-12 months) DES who required premature DAPT discontinuation. Patients were evaluated with diagnostic coronary angiogram and OCT. Individuals with appropriate stent strut coverage, expansion, apposition, and absence of in-stent restenosis or intraluminal masses were considered low risk and transiently ...
