Expert position paper on prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy in secondary prevention following myocardial infarction

• Published in: Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift Vol. 128; no. 11-12; pp. 450 - 457
• Main Authors: Weiss, Thomas W., Aichinger, Josef, Huber, Kurt, Speidl, Walter S., Watzinger, Norbert, Zweiker, Robert, Alber, Hannes F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01-06-2016
• Subjects: Aspirin - administration & dosage; Aspirin - standards; Austria; Drug Administration Schedule; Endocrinology; Evidence-Based Medicine - standards; Gastroenterology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Myocardial Infarction - drug therapy; Myocardial Infarction - prevention & control; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - standards; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists - administration & dosage; Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists - standards; Review; Review Article; Secondary Prevention - standards; Treatment Outcome; Myocardial infarction; inhibitor; Acute coronary syndrome; Ticagrelor; P2Y; DAPT; P2Y12 inhibitor
• ISSN: 0043-5325; 1613-7671
• DOI: 10.1007/s00508-016-1016-7

Summary
The protective effect of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following acute coronary syndrome is undisputed, but its duration is subject of debate. Several studies show that prolonged therapy provides a clinical benefit in patients following acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this position paper authored by Austrian experts is to outline the current evidence and provide an overview of recent studies. It is also intended to serve as a practical guide to identify those patients who may benefit from prolonged DAPT.