European Heart Journal
In high-risk patients with prior MI, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for >1 year decreased the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and CV death versus aspirin alone, with no difference in overall mortality. Major bleeding, but not fatal bleeding, was increased with DAPT.
Strategies for thromboprophylaxis in Fontan circulation: a meta-analysis
Heart
his meta-analysis of 10 studies (n=1,200) found aspirin or warfarin prophylaxis reduced the risk of thromboembolic events in patients who underwent the Fontan procedure; there was no significant difference between the two agents.
European Heart Journal
The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold was deemed non-inferior to cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents in terms of target lesion failure at 12 months (incidence of 4.2% vs 3.8%, respectively) in patients with one or two de novo lesions in different epicardial vessels.
Bivalirudin or Unfractionated Heparin in Acute Coronary Syndromes
New England Journal of Medicine
In patients with ACS for whom PCI was anticipated, bivalirudin was associated with a similar rate of major adverse CV events to unfractionated heparin (10.3% v 10.9%; RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.09; P=0.44). A post-PCI bivalirudin infusion did not appear to be of any benefit.
Annals of Internal Medicine
This evidence-based practice tool, endorsed by Thrombosis Canada, the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the Canadian Cardiovascular Pharmacists Network and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, aims to help healthcare professionals provide best-practice anticoagulant follow-up care.
European Heart Journal
This study investigating the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban in routine clinical use reported that rates of stroke and major bleeding were low in patients receiving rivaroxaban in routine clinical practice (0.7 and 2.1 events per 100 patient-years respectively).
Circulation
Pre-specified analysis (n=16,897) found vorapaxar (VX) significantly reduced composite of CV death, MI and stroke vs. placebo, regardless of planned thienopyridine (TP) therapy. Moderate/severe bleeding risk was increased with VX and was not significantly altered by planned TP.
European Heart Journal
Retrospective study (n=2244) found discontinuation of platelet inhibitor 3 days before surgery, as opposed to 5 days, did not increase the incidence of major bleeding complications in ticagrelor-treated patients, but increased the incidence in clopidogrel-treated patients.
Journal of the American Medical Association
Cohort study (n=42,987) found that among patients with incident heart failure with/without AF, CHA2DS2-VASc score was linked to risk of ischaemic stroke, thromboembolism, and death. However, predictive accuracy was modest and clinical utility of score remains to be determined.
Effect of clopidogrel with aspirin on functional outcome in TIA or minor stroke: CHANCE substudy
Neurology
This subgroup analysis suggests that clopidogrel plus aspirin vs. aspirin alone improves 90-day functional outcome (poor functional outcome occurred in 254 [9.9%] on combination vs 299 [11.6%] on aspirin alone; p=0.046) in patients with acute minor stroke or TIA.
PharmaTimes
ACE910 is an investigational humanised bispecific monoclonal antibody engineered to mimic the function of blood coagulation factor VIII, and thus provide a new approach to treating the condition, regardless of whether patients have developed inhibitors.
PharmaTimes
FDA approval of long term use is based on data from PEGASUS TIMI-54 study, which showed that in patients on aspirin with MI more than 1 year previously, treatment with ticagrelor significantly reduced risk of CV death, MI, or stroke (but increased risk of major bleeding).
The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:
http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services
