Tag Archives: dual antiplatelet therapy

Introduction Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), a combination of aspirin and either clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor, is recommended for secondary prevention of ischaemic events in coronary artery disease in both patients managed medically and those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients taking DAPT may be at high bleed risk if other factors are present, such as older age, kidney and/or liver disease, active cancer, anaemia, low platelet count, previous stroke, prior bleeding, recent trauma or surgery, and use of oral anticoagulants and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).1 Gastrointestinal (GI) bleedin

Introduction Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) with aspirin and clopidogrel is recommended for up to one year following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in order to reduce the risk of further cardiac events.1,2 Gastrointestinal bleeding is the main hazard of this treatment; however, although the incidence of bleeding is low, it results in significantly increased morbidity and mortality in these patients,3-5 and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often prescribed to selective patients to reduce this risk. PPIs act by reducing the secretion of gastric acid, neutralising gastric pH, increasing clot formation and decreasing the lysis of blood clots. Th

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