Massachusetts Medical Society: Interactive Question 4

Interactive Question 4

 

Question:

 

Current clinical guidelines and clinical trial data support dual antiplatelet therapy for what duration in patients with acute coronary syndromes?

 

 

 

Answers

Answer:

6 months
 

 

Correct Answer? 

 

Explanation:

Incorrect. Several clinical trials, including CURE, demonstrate a benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy, as compared to aspirin alone, beyond six months and for at least one year.

 

Answers

Answer:

12 months
 

 

Correct Answer? 

 

Explanation:

Correct.  The CURE trial found that patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina benefit from dual antiplatelet therapy continued for at least one year.  The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy for at least one year for patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. (While many clinicians recommend the regimen for more than a year, this has not been well studied.)

 

Answers

Answer:

24 months
 

 

Correct Answer? 

 

Explanation:

Incorrect.  While the TRITON-TIMI 38 trial suggested that the appropriate duration of dual antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention after myocardial infarction might be as long as 15 months, there is no clear evidence to support the use of dual antiplatelet therapy beyond one year for patients with acute coronary syndromes who do not undergo percutaneous coronary intervention.  However, this is an area of active research.

 

Answers

Answer:

indefinite
 

 

Correct Answer? 

 

Explanation:

Incorrect. The 2012 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend indefinite treatment with aspirin for patients with acute coronary syndromes.  However, there is currently no clear evidence to support the use of dual antiplatelet therapy beyond one year for patients with acute coronary syndromes.

 

 

Format:

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