Physicians' Academy for Cardiovascular Education

Aspirin alone lowers net clinical outcome compared to DAPT after TAVI

Aspirin Alone Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Systematic Review and Patient-Level Meta-Analysis

Literature - Brouwer J, Nijenhuis VJ, Rodés-Cabau J, et al. - J Am Heart Assoc. 2021;10:e019604. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.019604.

Introduction and methods

Patient undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have a high risk for bleeding and thrombotic events. The current guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel for the first 3-6 months followed by lifelong aspirin [1,2]. Yet, the optimal antithrombotic treatment to minimize the bleeding and thromboembolic risk in patient without a long-term indication for oral anticoagulation after TAVI is not completely determined.

The POPular TAVI cohort A trial in patients without a long-term indication for anticoagulation after TAVI demonstrated a lower incidence of bleeding without increased thromboembolic events with aspirin alone compared to DAPT [3]. This trial was powered for bleeding events and a composite endpoint of bleeding and thromboembolic events. However, it was not powered for thromboembolic events alone.

This study conducted a patient-level meta-analysis in order to increase the statistical power for thromboembolic events by pooling data of 4 RCTs that investigated the efficacy of aspirin vs. DAPT for the prevention of thromboembolic and bleeding events after TAVI in patients without an indication for oral anticoagulation.

4 Prospective RCTs that investigated aspirin alone vs aspirin with clopidogrel were included in the meta-analysis: 1) the POPular TAVI trial (n=665), 2) the ARTE trial (n=222), 3) the SAT-TAVI trial (n=120), and 4) the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Aspirin Alone in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation trial (n=79) [3-6]. All trials randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to aspirin (80-160 mg daily for the entire trial duration) or DAPT (aspirin 80-160 mg daily with 75 mg clopidogrel daily or ticlopidine 500 mg twice daily for 3 to 6 months followed by 80-160 mg aspirin daily). The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause mortality, major or life-threatening bleeding, and stroke or myocardial infarction. The co-primary outcome was the composite of all-cause mortality, stroke or myocardial infarction. Follow-up was 30 days and 3 months. Outcome data at 30 days were available for all 4 RCTs. The three months follow-up outcomes were available for the POPular TAVI, ARTE, and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Aspirin Alone in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation trials.

Main results

Conclusion

This meta-analysis showed a lower incidence of the composite of bleedings and thrombotic events after TAVI in patients without a chronic indication for oral anticoagulation treated with aspirin compared to those receiving DAPT at 30 days or 3 months. Furthermore, a reduction in major or life-threatening bleeding and no increase in thromboembolic events were observed in the group treated with aspirin compared to DAPT.

References

Show references

Find this article online at J Am Heart Assoc

Share this page with your colleagues and friends: