What is a Drug-Eluting Stent?

A stent is a metal tube that is inserted after balloon angioplasty to help keep the heart artery open.

One downside of the metal tube stents is that restenosis can occur, which is the reblockage of the artery. In an effort to prevent reblockage, some stents were designed with a coating (known as drug-eluting stents) to slow down cell growth around the stent. Drug-eluting stents manufactured by Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson, were approved by the FDA, although there was some concern throughout the medical community.

The purpose of a drug-eluting stent is to limit the restenosis (reblocking) of the coronary artery. Unfortunately, some studies have now concluded that drug-coated stents may actually stop the formation of the coating necessary to protect against blood clots.

Some patients who have received drug-eluting stents may be susceptible to blood clots and an event known as "late stent thrombosis". Late stent thrombosis is when blood-clotting occurs inside the stent, which can occur years after the stent is inserted. Thrombosis is extremely dangerous, and although cases are rare, it is fatal in over one third of cases.

ReNu Recall

ReNu Recall Attorney | Lawyer Helping Victims of Fungal Keratitis

What is Fungal Keratitis?

Fungal keratitis is a serious and painful disease of the cornea caused by a fungal organism. Until now, fungal keratitis has rarely been reported in the healthy contact lens wearing population. It typically occurs after trauma associated with plant matter or in immuno-compromised individuals. The higher incidence of fungal keratitis among normal contact lens wearers is a new finding.

If medication does not work and the eye is damaged, surgery may be necessary to remove fungal ulcers/lesions. Symptoms of fungal keratitis include eye pain, eye discomfort, decrease in vision and light hypersensitivity.

Last year, clusters of fungal keratitis were reported by contact-lens users in Asia, and recently Bausch & Lomb voluntarily suspended sales of ReNu solutions in Hong Kong and Singapore after reports of infections among users there. The product sold there was made at the South Carolina plant.

Should I Be Concerned?

If you believe you may have an eye infection or have other concerns about your eyes, you should see an eye doctor immediately.

Of the 30 cases that have been investigated, the FDA confirmed:

• 28 patients wore soft contact lenses;
• 2 reported no contact lens use;
• 26 of the 28 soft contact lens users confirmed using a Bausch & Lomb ReNu brand;
• 5 patients used other solutions in addition to the ReNu brand; and
• 9 patients said they wore their contacts while sleeping, a risk factor for microbial keratitis.