Never ending controversy over the duration of post DES dual antiplatelet therapy

Original title: Second Generation Drug-Eluting Stents Implantation Followed by Six Versus Twelve-Month – Dual Antiplatelet Therapy- The SECURITY Randomized Clinical Trial. Reference: Antonio Colombo et al. J Am CollCardiol. 2014 Nov 18;64(20):2086-97.

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after second-generation DES implantation is still debated and apparently will remain controversial for some time.

The aim of this study was to test the non-inferiority of 6 versus 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing PCI with second-generation DES.

The SECURITY trial was a 1:1 randomized, multicenter, international, investigator-driven, non-inferiority study conducted between July 2009 and June 2014. Patients with stable or unstable angina or silent ischemia undergoing PCI with at least 1 second-generation DES were eligible. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, definite or probable stent thrombosis, and bleeding at 12 and 24 months.

1399 patients were included and randomized to receive 6 months (n = 682) versus 12 months (n = 717) double antiaggregation therapy. At one year follow up, primary end point composite was observed in 4.5% of patients in the 6 months arm versus 3.7% of patients in the 12 month arm (risk difference 0.8%; 95% CI −2.4% to 1.7%; p = 0.469). 

Given that the upper 95% CI limit was lower than the pre-set margin of 2%, the non-inferiority hypothesis was confirmed (p < 0.05). Finally, no differences were observed in definite or probable stent thrombosis at 12 months (0.3% with 6 months vs. 0.4% with 12 months; p = 0.694) and at 24 months of follow-up (0.1% vs. 0% respectively; p = 0.305).

Conclusion

In this low risk population, the non-inferiority hypothesis between 6 and 12 months of double antiaggregation therapy after second generation DES implantation was confirmed, taking into account cardiac death, infarction, stroke, definite/probable thrombosis and bleeding.

Editorial Comment

In the multivariable analysis, independent predictors of primary end point were +75 age, and type, number, diameter and length of implanted stents.

This study, as well as others recently published that test the opposite hypothesis (double antiaggregation for more than 12 months) all arrive to the conclusion that not all patients are equal and, more importantly, not all stents are equally effective. 

SOLACI

More articles by this author

Polymer-Free vs. Biodegradable Polymer Stents: SORT OUT IX 5-Year Outcomes

In a constant strive to achieve life time management, interventional cardiologists focus on optimizing coronary scaffolds, which calls for the development of devices with...

Chronic Stent Recoil and Its Long-Term Effects

The evolution of stent technology—including new scaffold designs, thinner struts, and more biocompatible polymers—has brought about an emerging concern: the late loss of structural...

PROSPECT II Substudy: Relationship Between Different Levels of hs-CRP and Vulnerable Plaque Characteristics in Patients with NSTEMI

Inflammation plays a key role in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis and has been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular events, regardless...

Aspirin vs. Clopidogrel Monotherapy After 1 Month of ACS: Subgroup Analysis Based on Bleeding Risk and MI Type

Current guidelines still recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 12 months following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as the standard treatment in patients with acute...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img

Recent Articles

Polymer-Free vs. Biodegradable Polymer Stents: SORT OUT IX 5-Year Outcomes

In a constant strive to achieve life time management, interventional cardiologists focus on optimizing coronary scaffolds, which calls for the development of devices with...

Three-Year Outcomes of Mitral Valve-in-Valve Therapy with Balloon-Expandable Valves in the United States

Gentileza del Dr. Juan Manuel Pérez. Mitral Valve-in-Valve (MViV) implantation with balloon-expandable valves has become a solid alternative for patients with degenerated mitral bioprostheses. However,...

Edge-to-Edge Treatment in Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is characterized by severe ventricular dysfunction, most often of ischemic origin. It is frequently associated with severe mitral regurgitation (MR), either...