Genotype-Guided Abbreviated DAPT Versus Un-Guided De-escalation Therapy in Patients With ACS and HBR

Current guidelines recommend reducing the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (abbreviated DAPT) or de-escalating P2Y12 inhibitor intensity (de-escalation therapy) in patients at risk of major bleeding, even in patients with acute coronary syndromes. A network meta-analysis that indirectly compared these two strategies found that abbreviated dual antiplatelet therapy reduced major bleeding compared with de-escalated dual antiplatelet therapy.

Unlike prasugrel and ticagrelor, which are potent P2Y12 inhibitors, clopidogrel is activated in the liver via the cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) metabolic pathway to exert its antiplatelet effects. Its use as monotherapy requires caution, given that CYP2C19 genotypes that may be resistant to clopidogrel are more prevalent in Asian populations than in Western populations.

Therefore, this study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and confirm the efficacy and safety of an abbreviated dual antiplatelet therapy (Abbreviated DAPT, P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy) strategy based on CYP2C19 genetic testing and a step-down DAPT strategy (De-escalation therapy) after 1 month of maintenance potent P2Y12 inhibitor-based dual antiplatelet therapy in patients at HBR who underwent PCI for ACS.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must be at least 19 years of age
• Patients who is able to understand risks, benefits and treatment alternatives and sign informed consent voluntarily.
• Patients presenting with ACS (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] or non-ST-elevation [NSTE] ACS).
• Patients with at least one lesion with equal or greater than 50% diameter stenosis requiring treatment with drug-eluting stents in native coronary artery or graft.
• Patients with high bleeding risk (by ARC-HBR definition or PRECISE-DAPT score 25 or more)

Exclusion criteria

• Patients unable to provide consent.
• Patients who need chronic anti-coagulation therapy.
• Patients suffering from cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest
• Patients with known intolerance to aspirin, all P2Y12 inhibitors, or components of drug-eluting stents.
• Clinically significant out of range values for platelet count (< 50,000/mm3) or hemoglobin (<8 g/dL) at screening
• Non-cardiac co-morbid conditions are present with life expectancy <1 year or that may result in protocol non-compliance (per site investigator's medical judgment).
• Pregnant or lactating women.