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Published on: March 15, 2022
Antithrombotic Treatment in Coronary Artery Disease
Gerasimos Siasos1,2, Vasiliki Tsigkou1, Evanthia Bletsa1
1Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece.
Insights
Managing coronary artery disease (CAD) involves balancing antithrombotic therapy
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) presents a significant global health challenge with increasing mortality and morbidity.
- Despite advances in treatment, managing CAD remains complex due to the inherent risks of antithrombotic therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current pharmacological strategies for antithrombotic treatment in coronary artery disease.
- To highlight the critical balance between reducing ischemic events and minimizing bleeding risk.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent European Society of Cardiology guidelines for CAD classification.
- Analysis of various antithrombotic treatment strategies, including dual antiplatelet therapy, de-escalation, and dual pathway inhibition.
- Examination of factors influencing the ischemic-bleeding risk balance.
Main Results:
- Antithrombotic therapy is central to managing CAD, particularly in acute coronary syndromes and post-percutaneous coronary intervention.
- Achieving the optimal balance between antithrombotic efficacy and bleeding risk is challenging.
- Several therapeutic approaches are under investigation to refine treatment protocols.
Conclusions:
- Further research is necessary to address knowledge gaps in antithrombotic therapy for coronary artery disease.
- Special populations require tailored investigation to optimize treatment outcomes.
- Personalized approaches considering patient and procedural factors are crucial for effective CAD management.
Abstract:
Coronary artery disease exhibits growing mortality and morbidity worldwide despite the advances in pharmacotherapy and coronary intervention. Coronary artery disease is classified in the acute coronary syndromes and chronic coronary syndromes according to the most recent guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. Antithrombotic treatment is the cornerstone of therapy in coronary artery disease due to the involvement of atherothrombosis in the pathophysiology of the disease. Administration of antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants and fibrinolytics reduce ischemic risk, which is amplified early post-acute coronary syndromes or post percutaneous coronary intervention; though, antithrombotic treatment increases the risk for bleeding. The balance between ischemic and bleeding risk is difficult to achieve and is affected by patient characteristics, procedural parameters, concomitant medications and pharmacologic characteristics of the antithrombotic agents. Several pharmacological strategies have been evaluated in patients with coronary artery disease, such as the effectiveness and safety of antithrombotic agents, optimal dual antiplatelet treatment schemes and duration, aspirin de-escalation strategies of dual antiplatelet regimens, dual inhibition pathway strategies as well as triple antithrombotic therapy. Future studies are needed in order to investigate the gaps in our knowledge, including special populations.
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