De-escalation of dual antiplatelet therapy intensity or duration in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention was reviewed across 25 randomized controlled trials to assess strategies for reducing bleeding risk.
Does de-escalation of DAPT intensity or duration reduce bleeding without increasing ischaemic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing PCI?
De-escalation of DAPT intensity or duration in ACS patients undergoing PCI is a viable strategy to reduce bleeding risk without compromising ischaemic protection.
Current guidelines for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 12 months. Since bleeding is the main Achilles' heel of DAPT, in recent years several randomized controlled trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of de-escalation of DAPT with respect to ischaemic and bleeding endpoints. These trials can be broadly divided into studies evaluating a shorter duration of DAPT, and those studies in which DAPT that includes a potent P2Y 12 inhibitor, such as prasugrel or ticagrelor, is compared to less intense DAPT, mainly clopidogrel or reduced-dose prasugrel. We sought to evaluate the studies assessing de-escalation of DAPT in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. We review the studies evaluating the strategies of de-escalation of DAPT intensity and those evaluating a strategy of de-escalation of DAPT duration in ACS patients undergoing PCI. We summarize the limitations of studies to date, gaps in evidence and make recommendations for future studies.
Farag et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Acute coronary syndromes. De-escalation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) vs. Standard 12-month DAPT was evaluated. De-escalation of dual antiplatelet therapy intensity or duration in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention was reviewed across 25 randomized controlled trials to assess strategies for reducing bleeding risk.