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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Substantial Reduction of Platelet Adhesion by Heparin-Coated Stents

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Although optimized antiplatelet medication has improved the clinical outcome after coronary stenting, vessel occlusion and restenosis still remain a relevant clinical problem. Platelets play a key role in this process. Therefore, the authors compared the platelet adhesion on different stent surface modifications (electropolished without coating or coated with carbon, carbon and additional heparin, silicon carbide, or heparin alone) to investigate their role in reducing platelet adhesion. All stents and additional stainless steel plates were incubated in heparinized whole blood with radiolabeled platelets. After washing the stents and plates four times, radioactivity caused by the adhesion of radiolabeled platelets was measured. The adhesion of radiolabeled platelets, compared to uncoated, electropolished stents, was reduced through silicon carbide coating to 58.6%, by carbon coating with additional heparin to 32.9%, and heparin coating alone to 7.7%. Stent coating with heparin is the most effective among the examined coatings in reducing platelet adhesion in vitro.