The patients who can't follow the anti-clotting drug regimen are mainly people who will have to receive bare-metal stents instead, Tu said. "If the person is going to need some sort of surgery over the next year, they may be better off receiving the bare-metal stent," he said.
If the patient isn't diligent about taking the anti-clotting drugs, a heart attack could result over time, Mauri said.
"We know if these medicines are stopped early, there are risks of blood clots forming inside the stent," she said.
More information
To learn more about stents, visit the American Heart Association.
