Efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy for preventing recurrence of arterial thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

AbstractThere is a scarcity of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing antithrombotic regimens for secondary prevention of arterial thrombosis (AT) in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). We reviewed different antithrombotic regimens used for this purpose. We searched for studies on management of AT in APS on PubMed and Web of Science. Eleven studies (5 RCTs, 3 prospective, and 3 retrospective cohort studies) comparing different regimens and reporting outcomes specifically for patients with index AT events were identified. Treatments were vitamin K antagonists (VKA; 9 studies), non-VKA oral anticoagulant (NOAC; 3 studies), single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT; 7 studies), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT; 2 studies), and VKA combined with SAPT (4 studies). We performed a meta-analysis for the outcomes: recurrent AT, any (arterial or venous) recurrent thromboembolism, and major bleeding. Recurrent AT was reduced with VKA plus SAPT versus VKA (risk ratio [RR]: 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.85) and with DAPT versus SAPT (RR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09–0.99). Any recurrent thromboembolism was reduced with VKA plus SAPT versus VKA alone (RR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.24–0.69) and versus SAPT alone (RR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.13–0.96). There were no significant differences between other treatments for thromboembolism and for none of the comparisons regarding major bleeding. In a sensitivity analysis, excluding low-quality studies, VKA was more effective than NOAC to prevent recurrent AT (RR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07–0.93). Combined antithrombotic therapy might be more effective than single agents as secondary prophylaxis in APS with AT, and does not seem to compromise with safety, but the quality of evidence is generally low. NOACs should be avoided for patients with APS and AT.

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Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: Is More Better?

Internal Medicine News ◽

10.1016/s1097-8690(06)74048-3 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 39 (16) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

JON O. EBBERT ◽

ERIC G. TANGALOS

Keyword(s):

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

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Anticoagulation in addition to dual antiplatelet therapy has no impact on long-term follow-up after endovascular treatment of (sub)acute lower limb ischemia

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000786 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 321-329

Author(s):

Mariya Kronlage ◽

Erwin Blessing ◽

Oliver J. Müller ◽

Britta Heilmeier ◽

Hugo A. Katus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endovascular Treatment ◽

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Limb Ischemia ◽

Bleeding Complications ◽

Severe Bleeding ◽

Short Term ◽

Long Term Follow Up

Summary. Background: To assess the impact of short- vs. long-term anticoagulation in addition to standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) upon endovascular treatment of (sub)acute thrombembolic occlusions of the lower extremity. Patient and methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 202 patients with a thrombembolic occlusion of lower extremities, followed by crirical limb ischemia that received endovascular treatment including thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, or a combination of both between 2006 and 2015 at a single center. Following antithrombotic regimes were compared: 1) dual antiplatelet therapy, DAPT for 4 weeks (aspirin 100 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d) upon intervention, followed by a lifelong single antiplatelet therapy; 2) DAPT plus short term anticoagulation for 4 weeks, followed by a lifelong single antiplatelet therapy; 3) DAPT plus long term anticoagulation for > 4 weeks, followed by a lifelong anticoagulation. Results: Endovascular treatment was associated with high immediate revascularization (> 98 %), as well as overall and amputation-free survival rates (> 85 %), independent from the chosen anticoagulation regime in a two-year follow up, p > 0.05. Anticoagulation in addition to standard antiplatelet therapy had no significant effect on patency or freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR) 24 months upon index procedure for both thrombotic and embolic occlusions. Severe bleeding complications occurred more often in the long-term anticoagulation group (9.3 % vs. 5.6 % (short-term group) and 6.5 % (DAPT group), p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our observational study demonstrates that the choice of an antithrombotic regime had no impact on the long-term follow-up after endovascular treatment of acute thrombembolic limb ischemia whereas prolonged anticoagulation was associated with a nominal increase in severe bleeding complications.

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TWILIGHT: A Randomized Trial of Ticagrelor Monotherapy Versus Ticagrelor Plus Aspirin Beginning at 3 Months in High-risk Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

US Cardiology Review ◽

10.15420/usc.2019.02 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Author(s):

Johny Nicolas ◽

Usman Baber ◽

Roxana Mehran

Keyword(s):

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ◽

High Risk ◽

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Coronary Intervention ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

High Risk Patients ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Percutaneous Coronary ◽

Risk Patients

A P2Y12 inhibitor-based monotherapy after a short period of dual antiplatelet therapy is emerging as a plausible strategy to decrease bleeding events in high-risk patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention. Ticagrelor With Aspirin or Alone in High-Risk Patients After Coronary Intervention (TWILIGHT), a randomized double-blind trial, tested this approach by dropping aspirin at 3 months and continuing with ticagrelor monotherapy for an additional 12 months. The study enrolled 9,006 patients, of whom 7,119 who tolerated 3 months of dual antiplatelet therapy were randomized after 3 months into two arms: ticagrelor plus placebo and ticagrelor plus aspirin. The primary endpoint of interest, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding, occurred less frequently in the experimental arm (HR 0.56; 95% CI [0.45–0.68]; p<0.001), whereas the secondary endpoint of ischemic events was similar between the two arms (HR 0.99; 95% CI [0.78–1.25]). Transition from dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of ticagrelor plus aspirin to ticagrelor-based monotherapy in high-risk patients at 3 months after percutaneous coronary intervention resulted in a lower risk of bleeding events without an increase in risk of death, MI, or stroke.

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