Registry on Augmented Antithrombotic Treatment Regimens for Patients With Arterial Thrombotic APS

The optimal antithrombotic management of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and arterial thrombotic events is unclear. The guidelines provide several options, mostly with vitamin K antagonist with/without an antiplatelet agent. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was in a meta-analysis potentially effective, but included studies were few and small.

The primary aim is to compare a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), i.e. warfarin, acenocoumarol, phenprocoumon etc, with international normalized ratio 2.0-3.0 plus low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg) with DAPT - typically low-dose aspirin plus clopidogrel (75 mg daily) but other combinations will be acceptable. The registry will also include patients treated with VKA alone at standard- or high-intensity, since this is recommended and will serve as reference groups in comparison with VKA + low-dose aspirin and versus DAPT. The outcomes are (efficacy) arterial or venous thromboembolism, vascular death or (safety) major bleeding.

A secondary objective is to analyze how the cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and heart failure), venous thrombotic risk factors (previous venous thromboembolism, cancer, immobility, chronic inflammatory disease) and anti-phospholipid profile contribute to recurrent arterial thrombosis.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients of at least 18 years of age with confirmed antiphospholipid syndrome according to Sydney criteria and with first or recurrent arterial thrombotic manifestation, including those with asymptomatic brain infarcts on diagnostic imaging.
• Treatment with either A) a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) with therapeutic range, international normalized ratio (INR) 2.0-3.0 plus low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg daily), B) a VKA alone with therapeutic range, INR 2.0-3.0 or C) VKA with therapeutic range, INR 3.0-4.0, or D) with a dual antiplatelet regimen, if considered appropriate by the treating physician.
• Signed informed consent obtained (in jurisdictions where required).

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to follow the patient due to geographical or other reasons.
• Patients with documented poor compliance.
• Bleeding risk that in the opinion of the treating physician makes combination antithrombotic therapy unsafe.
• Pregnancy or planned pregnancy.
• Venous thrombotic event diagnosed after the last arterial event.