Eric R. Bates, MD Professor of Internal Medicine University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI

Prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy With aspirin and clopidogrel is recommended for all patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

SORT OUT II trial results support our current understanding of drug-eluting stent use: (1) there is no difference in efficacy or safety among different drug-eluting stents; (2) stent thrombosis rates are highest in the first month after stent implantation; and (3) late stent thrombosis rates are low and not influenced by discontinuation of clopidogrel therapy at 12 months.