thienopyridine and Cerebrovascular-Disorders

The optimal antithrombotic regimen in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for complex coronary artery disease is unclear. We compared the net clinical outcomes of triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT; aspirin, thienopyridine, and warfarin) and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT; aspirin and thienopyridine) in AF patients who had undergone DES implantation.. A total of 367 patients were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively; 131 patients (35.7%) received TAT and 236 patients (64.3%) received DAPT. DAPT and warfarin were maintained for a minimum of 12 and 24 months, respectively. The primary endpoint was the 2-year net clinical outcomes, a composite of major bleeding and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE). Propensity score-matching analysis was carried out in 99 patient pairs.. The 2-year net clinical outcomes of the TAT group were worse than those of the DAPT group (34.3 vs. 21.1%, P=0.006), which was mainly due to the higher incidence of major bleeding (16.7 vs. 4.6%, P<0.001), without any significant increase in MACCE (22.1 vs. 17.7%, P=0.313). In the multivariate analysis, TAT was an independent predictor of worse net clinical outcomes (odds ratio 1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.50) and major bleeding (odds ratio 3.54, 95% confidence interval 1.65-7.58). After propensity score matching, the TAT group still had worse net clinical outcomes and a higher incidence of major bleeding compared with the DAPT group.. In AF patients undergoing DES implantation, prolonged administration of TAT may be harmful due to the substantial increase in the risk for major bleeding without any reduction in MACCE.

Topics: Aged; Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Atrial Fibrillation; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Chi-Square Distribution; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Odds Ratio; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Propensity Score; Proportional Hazards Models; Pyridines; Republic of Korea; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Warfarin

Currently available clinical database was mostly developed in North America and Europe (Western Countries). Clinical database of Asian patients are still not large enough to develop Asian region specific clinical guidelines, although the population of patients in the majority of Asia countries are increasing rapidly. Marked ethnic and life-style heterogeneity within Asian region also makes it difficult to develop Asian region specific Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. In general, there are certain differences in the background epidemiology of the atherosclerotic and thrombotic diseases in Asia countries and Western ones such as Asian patients are more prone to cerebrovascular disease (CVD) than coronary artery disease (CAD). Accordingly, there also are marked differences in the use of antiplatelet agents in Asian patients underwent coronary intervention (such as frequent use of cilostazol) as compared to those living in the Western countries. Currently available database also suggests the difference in side effects of antiplatelet agents in Asian patients as compared to Western ones such as relatively high incidence of hepatic dysfunction with the use of thienopiridine. In the future, it would be important to clarify the detailed difference of Asian patients and Western ones in regards to the effects and side effects of antiplatelet therapy by the multi-national prospective observation registry and clinical trials including equal number of Asian and Western patients. It would also be important for Asian physician to develop scientifically valid methods to import the results of "Global Evidence" with appropriate modification for the clinical practice in patients living in the specific region of Asia.

Topics: Asia; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cilostazol; Clopidogrel; Coronary Disease; Europe; Humans; Liver; North America; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Pyridines; Tetrazoles; Ticlopidine