Two Approaches to Triple Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Which Is More Efficient and Safer?

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at high risk of bleeding and thromboembolic events. Thus, optimal treatment strategies in this challenging subset have been controversial. Herein, we aim to investigate different triple antithrombotic treatment (TAT) strategies in patients with ACS and AF after PCI. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study based on all consecutive patients with the diagnosis of ACS and AF treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) plus dual antiplatelet therapy using a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel) and aspirin (for 1 to 3 months) and observed for 12 months for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding incidents. RESULTS: MACE occurred in 26.6% of patients treated with the VKA and 30.9% with NOAC (p = 0.659). Bleeding occurred in 7.8% of patients treated with VKA and 7.4% with NOAC (ns). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with ACS and AF who had undergone PCI, there was no significant difference in the risk of bleeding and ischemic events among those who received TAT with NOAC and VKA.