Early antiplatelet therapy used for acute ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage

In this editorial we comment on the article published by Zhang et al in the recent issue of World Journal of Clinical Cases.We evaluate their claims on the benefit of use of Aspirin in the early management of patients with ischemic stroke.We also comment on their contention of using aspirin in the early management of patients with intracranial hemorrhage,a practice not seen in modern medicine.Large clinical trials such as the International Stroke Trial and the Chinese Acute Stroke Trial have shown the benefit of Aspirin use within 48 h of patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.The findings were corroborated in the open-label trial performed by Zhang et al in a smaller sample group of 25 patients where they showed improvement in functional scores at 90 days without an increase in adverse events.As such,this intervention is also recommended by the American Heart Association stroke guidelines from 2021.With regard to Intracranial hemorrhage,traditional practice has been to discontinue or avoid antiplatelet therapy in these patient groups.However,no studies have been done to evaluate this management strategy that is more borne out of the mechanism behind Aspirin’s effect on the coagulation pathway.Zhang et al evaluate the benefits of Aspirin on patients with low-volume intracranial hemorrhage,i.e.,less than 30 mL on computed tomo-graphy imaging,and show no increase in mortality.The caveat of this finding is that all outcomes were pooled into one group for results,and the number of patients was low.While more studies with larger patient groups are required,the data from Zhang et al suggests that patients with small-volume intracranial hemorrhages may benefit from Aspirin administration in the acute phase of management.

Efficacy and safety of individually tailored antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome after coronary stenting： a single center, randomized, feasibility study

Background Low responsiveness to clopidogrel （LRC） is associated with increased risk of ischemic events. This study was aimed to explore the feasibility of tailored antiplatelet therapy according to the responsiveness to clopidogrel. Methods A total of 305 clopidogrel naive patients with acute coronary syndromes （ACS） undergoing coronary stenting were randomly assigned to receive standard （n = 151） or tailored （n = 154） antiplatelet therapy. The ADP-induced platelet aggregation tests by light transmission aggregometry were performed to identify LRC patients assigned to the tailored group. The standard antiplatelet regimen was dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel. The tailored antiplatelet therapy was standard regimen for non-LRC patients and an additional 6-month cilostazol treatment for LRC patients. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke at one year. Results LCR was present in 26.6% （41/154） of patients in the tailored group. The percentage platelet aggregation for LCR patients was significantly decreased at three days after adjunctive cilostazol treatment （77.5% ± 12.1% vs. 64.5% ± 12.1%, P 〈 0.001）. At one year follow-up, a non-significant 37% relative risk reduction of primary events were observed in the tailored group as compared to the standard group （5.8% vs. 9.3%, P = 0.257）. There were no differences in the rates of stent thrombosis and hemorrhagic events between the two groups. Conclusions Tailored antiplatelet therapy for ACS patients after coronary stenting according to responsiveness to clopidogrel is feasible. However, its efficacy and safety need further confirmation by clinical trials with larger sample sizes.

Dual antiplatelet therapy increases pocket hematoma complications in Chinese patients with pacemaker implantation

Objective To assess the prevalence of the bleeding complications in pacemaker implanted patients receiving different antiplatelet regimens, and the influence of each regimen on hospital stays after device implantation. Methods We prospectively enrolled 364 patients receiving the cardiac rhythm device implantations in Fuwai Hospital from July 2012 to December 2013. Bleeding complications including pocket hematoma, hemothorax, cardiac tamponade and blood transfusion requirement were measured as endpoints. Post operation hospital stay was also included in the endpoints. Results Bleeding complications were detected in 15 patients （14 with hematoma, one with hemothorax） out of all 364 patients （4.12%）. Dual antiplatelet therapy （DAT） significantly increased hematoma （19.3%） compared with aspi- fin treatment （ASA） （3.2%, P = 0.001） and no antiplatelet therapy （1.9%, P 〈 0.001）. There was no significant difference in incidence of pocket hematoma between the ASA group and the control group （P = 0.45）. The post procedure hospital stay was longer in DAT group （5.45 ± 2.01 days） compared to those in the ASA group （3.65 ± 1.37 days, P 〈 0.05） or control group （3.99 ± 2.27 days, P 〈 0.05）. Pocket hema- toma was considered an independent predictor of hospital stay prolongation （OR： 5.26; 95% CI： 1.56-16.64; P = 0.007）. Conclusions Among the Chinese patients undergoing device implantation in this study, the use of dual antiplatelet agents significantly increased the risk of pocket hematoma complications and led to a longer hospital stay. Use of aspirin alone did not increase the risk.

Peripheral interventions and antiplatelet therapy: Role in current practice

Peripheral arterial disease(PAD) is a common disorder associated with a high risk of cardiovascular mortality and continues to be under-recognized. The major risk factors for PAD are similar to those for coronary and cerebrovascular disease. Management includes exercise program, pharmacologic therapy and revascularization including endovascular and surgical approach. The optimal revascularization strategy, endovascular or surgical intervention, is often debated due to the paucity of head to head randomized controlled studies. Despite significant advances in endovascular interventions resulting in increased utilization over surgical bypass, significant challenges still remain. Platelet activation and aggregation after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of atherosclerotic arteries are important risk factors for re-occlusion/restenosis and life-threatening thrombosis following endovascular procedures. Antiplatelet agents are commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and death from cardiovascular causes in patients with PAD. Despite an abundance of data demonstrating efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease, there is a paucity of clinical information, clinical guidelines and randomized controlled studies in the PAD population. Hence, data on antiplatelet therapy in coronary interventions is frequently extrapolated to peripheral interventions. The aim of this review article is to elucidate the current data on revascularization and the role and duration of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in re-vascularized lower limb PAD patients.

Association of α_(2A)-Adrenergic Receptor Genetic Variants with Platelet Reactivity in Chinese Patients on Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objective The alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor gene （ADRA2A） polymorphism in individuals antiplatelet response to sympathetic stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate ADRA2A variants on platelet reactivity in Chinese patients on dual antiplatelet therapy undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. modifies the the effect of （DAPT） after Methods From March 2011 to March 2013, 1,024 patients were enrolled in this prospective, single-center, observational study in China. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） of ADRA2A gene （rs11195419, rs3750625, rs13306146, and rs553668） and CYP2C19^＊2 were detected by ligase detection reaction （LDR）, and adenosine diphosphate （ADP） inhibition was detected by thromboelastography （TEG）. Results The minor allele frequencies of ADRA2A SNPs were common. Platelet ADP inhibition was significantly different among patients carrying rs11195419 （adjusted P = 0.022） and rs3750625 （adjusted P = 0.016）. The homozygous allele carriers had the lowest ADP inhibition. However, ADP inhibition was not significantly different in rs553668 and rs13306146. At the multivariate analysis, rs11195419 （P = 0.033）, rs3750625 （P = 0.020） and CYP2C19＂2 （P = 0.002） were independent predictors of ADP inhibition. Subgroups analysis based on sex showed rs11195419 （P = 0.003） and rs3750625 （P = 0.002） were significantly associated with ADP inhibition in males, but not in females. Conclusion ADRA2A genetic variations were associated with ADP-induced platelet aggregation during DAPT in Chinese patients undergoing PCI, and the effect was particularly more pronounced in males.

Safety of laparoscopic surgery in digestive diseases with special reference to antithrombotic therapy: A systematic review of the literature

AIMTo elucidate the effect of antithrombotic therapy （ATT） on bleeding and thromboembolic complications during or after laparoscopic digestive surgery.METHODSPublished articles or internationally accepted abstracts between 2000 and 2017 were searched from PubMed, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar, and studies involving laparoscopic digestive surgery and antiplatelet therapy （APT） and/or anticoagulation therapy （ACT） were included after careful review of each study. Data such as study design, type of surgical procedures, antithrombotic drugs used, and surgical outcome （both bleeding and thromboembolic complications） were extracted from each study.RESULTSThirteen published articles and two internationally accepted abstracts were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Only one study concerning elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with peri-operative heparin bridging for ACT showed that the risk of postoperative bleeding was higher compared with those without ACT. The remaining 14 studies reported no signifcant differences in the incidence of bleeding complications between the ATT group and the group without ATT. The risk of thromboembolic events （TE） associated with laparoscopic digestive surgery in patients receiving ATT was not signifcantly higher than those with no ATT or interrupted APT.Fujikawa T et al . Laparoscopic digestive surgery and antithrombotic therapyCONCLUSIONLaparoscopic digestive surgery in ATT-burdened patients for prevention of bleeding and TE showed satisfactory results. The risk of hemorrhagic complication during or after these procedures in patients with continued APT or heparin bridging was not signifcantly higher than in patients with no ATT or interrupted APT.

Prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation improves long-term prognosis for acute coronary syndrome:five-year results from a large cohort study

BACKGROUND:To investigate the most appropriate dual antiplatelet therapy(DAPT)duration for patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS)after drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation in the largest cardiovascular center of China.METHODS:We enrolled 5,187 consecutive patients with ACS who received DES from January to December 2013.Patients were divided into four groups based on DAPT duration:standard DAPT group(11-13 months,n=1,568)and prolonged DAPT groups(13-18 months[n=308],18-24 months[n=2,125],and>24 months[n=1,186]).Baseline characteristics and 5-year clinical outcomes were recorded.RESULTS:Baseline characteristics were similar across the four groups.Among the four groups,those with prolonged DAPT(18-24 months)had the lowest incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events(MACCEs)(14.1%vs.11.7%vs.9.6%vs.24.2%,P<0.001),all-cause death(4.8%vs.3.9%vs.2.1%vs.2.6%,P<0.001),cardiac death(3.1%vs.2.6%vs.1.4%vs.1.9%,P=0.004),and myocardial infarction(MI)(3.8%vs.4.2%vs.2.5%vs.5.8%,P<0.001).The incidence of bleeding was not different among the four groups(9.9%vs.9.4%vs.11.0%vs.9.4%,P=0.449).Cox multivariable analysis showed that prolonged DAPT(18-24 months)was an independent protective factor for MACCEs(hazard ratio[HR]0.802,95%confidence interval[CI]0.729-0.882,P<0.001),all-cause death(HR 0.660,95%CI 0.547-0.795,P<0.001),cardiac death(HR 0.663,95%CI 0.526-0.835,P<0.001),MI(HR 0.796,95%CI 0.662-0.957,P=0.015),and target vessel revascularization(HR 0.867,95%CI 0.755-0.996,P=0.044).Subgroup analysis for high bleeding risk showed that prolonged DAPT remained an independent protective factor for all-cause death and MACCEs.CONCLUSION:For patients with ACS after DES,appropriately prolonging the DAPT duration may be associated with a reduced risk of adverse ischemic events without increasing the bleeding risk.

Safety and efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with end-stage liver disease

The prevalence of coronary artery disease(CAD)increases in patients with endstage liver disease,with part of them receiving the percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)as a treatment option.Dual antiplatelet therapy(DAPT),a standard of care after PCI,could result in catastrophic consequences in this population.Before PCI and the start of DAPT,it is recommended to assess patient bleeding risk.Based on novel findings,liver cirrhosis does not necessarily lead to a significant increase in bleeding complications.Furthermore,conventional methods,such as the international normalized ratio,might not be appropriate in assessing individual bleeding risk.The highest bleeding risk among cirrhotic patients has a subgroup with severe thrombocytopenia(<50×10^(9)/L)and elevated portal pressure.Therefore,every effort should be made to maintain thrombocyte count above>50×10^(9)/L and prevent variceal bleeding.There is no solid evidence for DAPT in patients with cirrhosis.However,randomized trials investigating short(one month)DAPT duration after PCI with new drug-eluting stents(DES)in a high bleeding risk patient population can be implemented in patients with cirrhosis.Based on retrospective studies(with older stents and protocols),PCI and DAPT appear to be safe but with a higher risk of bleeding complications with longer DAPT usage.Finally,novel methods in assessing CAD severity should be performed to avoid unnecessary PCI and potential risks associated with DAPT.When indicated,PCI should be performed over radial artery using contemporary DES.Complementary medical therapy,such as proton pump inhibitors and beta-blockers,should be prescribed for lower bleeding risk patients.Novel approaches,such as thromboelastography and“preventive”upper endoscopies in PCI circumstances,warn clinical confirmation.

Efficacy and safety of aspirin antiplatelet therapy within 48 h of symptom onset in patients with acute stroke

BACKGROUND Aspirin is a widely used antiplatelet agent that reduces the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke and other vascular events.However,the optimal timing and dose of aspirin initiation after an acute stroke remain controversial.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of aspirin antiplatelet therapy within 48 h of symptom onset in patients with acute stroke.METHODS We conducted a randomized,open-label,controlled trial in 60 patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke who were admitted to our hospital within 24 h of symptom onset.Patients were randomly assigned to receive either aspirin 300 mg daily or no aspirin within 48 h of stroke onset.The primary outcome was the occurrence of recurrent stroke,myocardial infarction,or vascular death within 90 d.The secondary outcomes were functional outcomes at 90 d measured using the modified Rankin Scale(mRS),incidence of bleeding complications,and mortality rate.RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 67.8 years and 55%of them were male.The median time from stroke onset to randomization was 12 h.The baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups.The primary outcome occurred in 6.7%of patients in the aspirin group and 16.7%of patients in the no aspirin group(relative risk=0.40,95%confidence interval:0.12-1.31,P=0.13).The mRS score at 90 d was significantly lower in the aspirin group than in the no aspirin group(median,2 vs 3,respectively;P=0.04).The incidence of bleeding complications was similar between the groups(6.7%vs 6.7%,P=1.00).The mortality rates were also comparable between the two groups(10%vs 13.3%,P=0.69).CONCLUSION Aspirin use is associated with favorable functional outcomes but does not significantly reduce the risk of recurrent vascular events.Its acceptable safety profile is comparable to that of no aspirin.Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.

Study on the Guidance of Platelet Inhibition Rate Detected with Thrombelastogram in Antiplatelet Therapy for Acute Non-Cardiogenic Stroke

Objective:To investigate the application value of thrombelastogram(TEG)in the detection of platelet inhibition rate for antiplatelet therapy for acute non-cardiogenic stroke.Methods:A total of 100 patients with ischemic non-cardiogenic stroke were selected for this study from September 2020 to October 2021.Patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,with 50 cases for each group.Before and after 1 week of antiplatelet drug treatment,the platelet inhibition rate in the experimental group was measured with arachidonic acid(AA)and adenosine diphosphate(ADP)by TEG;no platelet inhibition rates detection was conducted for the control group.The dose and type of drugs were adjusted for the experimental group according to the platelet functions and medication based on the clinical experience conducted for the control group.The neurological deficits of the discharged patients were scored with NIHSS score,mRS score,stroke recurrence,hemorrhage,and other events were followed up at the 3rd month of discharge.Results:In the experimental group,the inhibition rates of AA and ADP were significantly higher than those before treatment(both P<0.05).After treatment,the inhibition rates of AA and ADP in dual antiplatelet patients were higher than those of monoclonal antiplatelets(both P<0.05).The NIHSS score at discharge and the mRS score at the 3rd-month-follow-up in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(both P<0.05).The incidences of stroke recurrence and hemorrhage events in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of a thrombelastogram in the detection of platelet inhibition rate to guide antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute non-cardiogenic stroke reduces the recurrences of cerebral infarction and the risk of hemorrhage and improves patients’clinical prognosis.

In-Stent Thrombosis after Antiplatelet Therapy Conversion while Awaiting Coronary Bypass

In-stent thrombosis(IST)is a rare yet dangerous complication that may occur despite optimized coronary intervention in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.This is a case of an 81-year-old man who presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.Right coronary artery(RCA)occlusion was suspected.RCA angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention were performed.Complicated left coronary artery disease was subsequently discovered.Per cardiothoracic surgeon request,the patient was transitioned from ticagrelor to clopidogrel therapy in preparation for coronary artery bypass grafting.The patient experienced IST the day before surgery while receiving clopidogrel.We examine this case,which highlights the complexity of antiplatelet therapy choice and the role of genetic testing in evaluation of IST risk.

Safety of pancreatic surgery with special reference to antithrombotic therapy:A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage(PPH)is the most severe type of complication after pancreatic surgery,although the effect of antithrombotic therapy(ATT)on PPH is largely unknown.The safety and efficacy of chemical thromboprophylaxis for venous thromboembolism(VTE)remains controversial.AIM To elucidate the effect of ATT on PPH.METHODS Published articles between 2013 and 2020 were searched from PubMed and Google Scholar,and after careful reviewing of all studies,studies concerning ATT and pancreatic surgery were included.Data such as study design,type of surgical procedures,type of antithrombotic drugs,and surgical outcome were extracted from the studies.RESULTS Nineteen published articles with a total of 37863 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery were included in the systematic review.Fourteen were cohort studies,with only three being prospective in nature.Two studies demonstrated that in patients receiving chronic ATT,which were mostly managed by heparin bridging,the risk of PPH was higher compared with those without ATT,and one study showed that patients with direct-acting oral anticoagulants managed by heparin bridging had significantly higher postoperative bleeding rates than others.The remaining six studies reported that pancreatic surgery can be safely performed in patients receiving chronic ATT,even under preoperative aspirin continuation.Concerning chemical thromboprophylaxis for VTE,most studies have shown a potentially high risk of PPH in patients undergoing chemical thromboprophylaxis;however,its effectiveness against VTE has not been statistically demonstrated,particularly among Asian patients.CONCLUSION Pancreatic surgery in chronically ATT-received patients can be safely performed without an increase in the occurrence of PPH,although the safety and efficacy of chemical thromboprophylaxis for VTE during pancreatic surgery is still controversial.Further investigation using reliable studies with good design is required to establish definite protocols or guidelines.

Shortened dual antiplatelet therapy in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention era

Percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting is followed by a duration of dual antiplatelet therapy(DAPT)to reduce stent thrombosis and avoid target lesion failure.The period of DAPT recommended in international guidelines following drug-eluting stent implantation is 12 mo for most patients with acute coronary syndrome,and 6 mo for patients with chronic coronary syndrome or high bleeding risk.The new generation of drug-eluting stents have metallic platforms with thinner struts,associated with significantly less stent thrombosis.Shortened DAPT has been investigated with these stents,with evidence from randomised clinical trials for some individual stents showing non-inferior safety and efficacy outcomes.This has to be balanced by the effect of DAPT on secondary prevention of systemic cardiovascular disease especially in high-risk populations.This review will outline the current evidence for individual stents with regards to DAPT duration for both acute coronary syndrome and chronic coronary syndrome and discuss further directions for research and personalised medicine in this contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention era.

Should antiplatelet therapy be interrupted in drug eluting stent recipients throughout the periendoscopic period？ A very late stent thrombosis case re-port and review of the literature

In-stent thrombosis after cessation of antiplatelet medications in patients with drug-eluting stents （DES） is a significant problem in medical practice, particularly in the perioperative period. We report a case of an 87-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and chronic atrophic gastritis. Very late thrombosis of a sirolimus-eluting stent occurred 1207 days after implantation, seven months after discontinuation of clopidogrel, and the interruption of aspirin 13 days in preparation of an elective endoscopic gastroin-testinal procedure presented with acute myocardial infarction. The patient was treated with thrombectomy and successfully revascularized with superimposition of two sirolimus-eluting stents. Medications administered in the catheterization laboratory included low molecular weight heparin and nitroglycerin. Flow was defined as grade 2 according to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction scale. Electrocardio-gram after the procedure revealed persistent, but decreased, ST-segment elevation in the anterolateral leads. The patient recovered and was discharged on aspirin and clopidogrel indefinitely. There was no cardiac event during the two year follow-up period. This case underlines the importance of maintaining the balance of thrombosis and bleeding during perioperation of non-cardiac procedure and the possible need for continuation of aspirin therapy during periendoscopic procedures among patients with low bleeding risks who received DES.

Aspirin suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inhibiting platelet activity

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common malignant liver disease in the world.Platelets(PLTs)are known to play a key role in the maintenance of liver homeostasis and the pathophysiological processes of a variety of liver diseases.Aspirin is the most classic antiplatelet agent.However,the molecular mechanism of platelet action and whether aspirin can affect HCC progression by inhibiting platelet activity need further study.AIM To explore the impact of the antiplatelet effect of aspirin on the development of HCC.METHODS Platelet-rich plasma,platelet plasma,pure platelet,and platelet lysate were prepared,and a coculture model of PLTs and HCC cells was established.CCK-8 analysis,apoptosis analysis,Transwell analysis,and real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)were used to analyze the effects of PLTs on the growth,metastasis,and inflammatory microenvironment of HCC.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the effects of platelet activation on tumor-related signaling pathways.Aspirin was used to block the activation and aggregation of PLTs both in vitro and in vivo,and the effect of PLTs on the progression of HCC RESULTS PLTs significantly promoted the growth,invasion,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,and formation of an inflammatory microenvironment in HCC cells.Activated PLTs promoted HCC progression by activating the mitogenactivated protein kinase/protein kinase B/signal transducer and activator of transcription three(MAPK/AKT/STAT3)signaling axis.Additionally,aspirin inhibited HCC progression in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting platelet activation.CONCLUSION PLTs play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCC,and aspirin can affect HCC progression by inhibiting platelet activity.These results suggest that antiplatelet therapy has promising application prospects in the treatment and combined treatment of HCC.

Protective effects of long term antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),with its rising prevalence rates is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and thromboembolic events.Antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants agents are often prescribed but the literature on the impact of long-term anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet use among patients hospitalized with IBD is scarce.The aim of this study is to assess the outcomes of patients hospitalized with IBD on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant agents.AIM To investigate the effects of long-term use of antiplatelets/anticoagulants on clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with IBD.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database,including all adult IBD patients hospitalized in the United States from 2016 to 2019.Patient cohorts were stratified based on antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy status.Multivariate regression analysis was done to assess outcomes,adjusting for potential confounders.The primary outcome was mortality,whereas length of stay(LOS),total parenteral nutrition,acute kidney injury,sepsis,shock,gastrointestinal bleeding,need for colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy,abdominal surgery and total hospitalization charges were secondary outcomes.RESULTS Among 374744 hospitalized IBD patients,antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy alone was associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality and reduced healthcare utilization,including shorter LOS and decreased hospitalization costs.Combined therapy was associated with a protective effect on mortality,but did not reach statistical significance.Notably,therapy did not exacerbate disease severity or complications,although higher odds of gastrointestinal bleeding were observed.CONCLUSION Our study highlights the potential benefits of long-term anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy in hospitalized IBD patients,with improved mortality outcomes and healthcare utilization.While concerns regarding gastrointestinal bleeding exist,the overall safety profile suggests a role for these agents in mitigating thromboembolic risks without exacerbating disease severity.Further research is needed to look at optimal treatment strategies and addressing limitations to guide clinical decision-making in this population.

Restenosis of a drug eluting stent on the previous bioresorbable vascular scaffold successfully treated with a drug-coated balloon: A case report

BACKGROUND The in-stent restenosis(ISR)rates are reportedly inconsistent despite the increased use of second-generation drug eluting stent(DES).Although bioresorbable vascular scaffold(BVS)have substantial advantages with respect to vascular restoration,the rate of scaffold thrombosis is higher with BVS than with DES.Optimal treatment strategies have not been established for DES-ISR to date.CASE SUMMARY We report on a case of a 60-year-old man patient with acute coronary syndrome.He had a history of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction associated with very late scaffold thrombosis and treated with a DES.Coronary angiography revealed significant stenosis,suggesting DES-ISR on the previous BVS.Optical coherence tomography(OCT)identified a plaque rupture and a disrupted scaffold strut in the neointimal proliferation of DES.To treat the DES-ISR on the previous BVS,we opted for a drug-coated balloon(DCB)after a balloon angioplasty using a semi-compliant and non-compliant balloon.The patient did not experience adverse cardiovascular events on using a DCB following the use of intensive dual antiplatelet therapy and statin for 24 mo.CONCLUSION This case highlights the importance of OCT as an imaging modality for characterizing the mechanism of target lesion failure.The use of a DCB following the administration of optimal pharmacologic therapy may be an optimal strategy for the treatment and prevention of recurrent BVS thrombosis and DES-ISR.

Clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors-where do we stand in 2012?

Clopidogrel in association with aspirine is considered state of the art of medical treatment for acute coronary syndrome by reducing the risk of new ischemic events.Concomitant treatment with proton pump inhibitors in order to prevent gastrointestinal side effects is recommended by clinical guidelines.Clopidogrel needs metabolic activation predominantly by the hepatic cytochrome P450 isoenzyme Cytochrome 2C19(CYP2C19) and proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) are extensively metabolized by the CYP2C19 isoenzyme as well.Several pharmacodynamic studies investigating a potential clopidogrel-PPI interaction found a significant decrease of the clopidogrel platelet antiaggregation effect for omeprazole,but not for pantoprazole.Initial clinical cohort studies in 2009 reported an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular events,when under clopidogrel and PPI treatment at the same time.These observations led the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medecines Agency to discourage the combination of clopidogrel and PPI(especially omeprazole) in the same year.In contrast,more recent retrospective cohort studies including propensity score matching and the only existing randomized trial have not shown any difference concerning adverse cardiovascular events when concomitantly on clopidogrel and PPI or only on clopidogrel.Three meta-analyses report an inverse correlation between clopidogrel-PPI interaction and study quality,with high and moderate quality studies not reporting any association,rising concern about unmeasured confounders biasing the low quality studies.Thus,no definite evidence exists for an effect on mortality.Because PPI induced risk reduction clearly overweighs the possible adverse cardiovascular risk in patients with high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding,combination of clopidogrel with the less CYP2C19 inhibiting pantoprazole should be recommended.

Fondaparinux:A cornerstone drug in acute coronary syndromes

In acute coronary syndrome(ACS),the use of anticoagulants in conjunction with antiplatelet agents in the acute phase has resulted in reduced ischemic events and is more effective than either class of drug used alone.Though parenteral anticoagulation is essential at the time of diagnosis,a balance must be made between ischemic benefit and the increased risk of bleeding when prescribing anticoagulants.Adverse events associated with anticoagulants,such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia,bleeding problems,and the need for close monitoring of anticoagulant activity,have contributed to finding agents that reduce these limitations.Studies like the Organization to Assess Strategies in Ischemic Syndromes 5 and 6 and their meta-analysis have proven the efficacy of Fondaparinux over the entire ACS spectrum.The convenience of administration(once daily),lack of monitoring,reduction in mortality,and better safety profile make Fondaparinux a simple and effective anti-coagulant for the management of ACS.

Effectiveness and safety of antithrombotic strategies in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND Elderly patients represent a rapidly growing part of the population more susceptible to acute coronary syndromes and their complications.However,literature evidence is lacking in this clinical setting.AIM To describe the clinical features,in-hospital management and outcomes of“elderly”patients with myocardial infarction treated with antiplatelet and/or anticoagulation therapy.METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients older than 80 years admitted to the Division of Cardiology of St.Andrea Hospital of Vercelli from January 2018 to December 2018 due to ST-elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI).Clinical and laboratory data were collected for each patient,as well as the prevalence of previous or in-hospital atrial fibrillation(AF).In-hospital management,consisting of an invasive or conservative strategy,and the anti-thrombotic therapy used are described.Outcomes evaluated at 1 year follow-up included an efficacy ischemic endpoint and a safety bleeding endpoint.RESULTS Of the 105 patients enrolled(mean age 83.9±3.6 years,52.3%males),68(64.8%)were admitted due to NSTEMI and 37(35.2%)due to STEMI.Among the STEMI patients,34(91.9%)underwent coronary angiography and all of them were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI);among the NSTEMI patients,42(61.8%)were assigned to an invasive strategy and 16(38.1%)of them underwent a PCI.No significant difference between the groups was found concerning the prevalence of previous or in-hospital de-novo AF.10.5%of the whole population received triple antithrombotic therapy and 9.5%single antiplatelet therapy plus oral anticoagulation(OAC),with no significant difference between the subgroups,although a higher number of STEMI patients received dual antiplatelet therapy without OAC as compared with NSTEMI patients.A low rate of in-hospital death(5.7%)and 1-year cardiovascular death(3.3%)was registered.Seven(7.8%)patients experienced major adverse cardiovascular events,while the rate of minor and major bleeding at 1-year follow-up was 10%and 2.2%,respectively,with no difference between NSTEMI and STEMI patients.CONCLUSION In this real-world study,a tailored evaluation of an invasive strategy and antithrombotic therapy resulted in a low rate of adverse events in elderly patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction.