Abstract
Background
About 40% of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) and an additional 10% develop AF after TAVR. However, there is paucity of data regarding the optimal antithrombotic regimen following TAVR in patients with a clinical indication for oral anticoagulants (OAC).
Purpose
To compare the prognostic impact of OAC plus at least one antiplatelet agent (APT) versus OAC therapy alone in patients undergoing TAVR.
Methods
We systematically searched the literature for studies evaluating the comparative efficacy and safety of OAC + APT versus OAC alone in TAVR. Random-effect meta-analysis was performed comparing clinical outcomes between the two groups. All-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were the efficacy outcomes. Stroke and major bleeding, defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeding types 3 to 5, constituted the safety outcome.
Results
Overall, 398 titles and abstracts were identified through database searching. Four observational studies were selected, for a total of 1929 patients. After a median follow-up of 18.5 months (IQR 11.3–29.3), OAC + APT increased major bleeding events compared to OAC alone (OR=1.79; 95% CI 1.21–2.66; P=0.004) with no difference in stroke (OR 01.02; 95% CI 0.52–2.01; P=0.95), all-cause mortality (OR=1.07; 95% CI 0.78–1.47; P=0.66) and cardiovascular mortality (OR=1.08; 95% CI 0.79–1.47; P=0.62).
Conclusion
A combination strategy of OAC + APT provides increased risk of bleeding compared to OAC therapy alone in patients undergoing TAVR with similar outcomes in terms of stroke, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality; therefore, when feasible, it should be advised not to add APT on top of OAC therapy in patients without other clinical indications for APT treatment.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
Primary Hemostatic Disorders and Late Major Bleeding After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
