The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the benefits and risks of discontinuing antiplatelet therapy on clinical outcomes in patients who previously underwent coronary intervention using a drug-coated balloon. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does stopping antiplatelet therapy after 12 months affect the risk of net adverse clinical events? Does stopping antiplatelet therapy reduce the risk of bleeding compared with continuing treatment? Researchers will compare patients who discontinue antiplatelet therapy with patients who continue antiplatelet therapy to determine the impact on clinical outcomes during follow-up. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either discontinue or continue antiplatelet therapy Receive routine clinical follow-up through clinic visits or telephone contacts Be monitored for cardiovascular events and bleeding outcomes over time
Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention is widely used for the treatment of coronary artery disease, traditionally involving implantation of drug-eluting stents. Although contemporary drug-eluting stents have improved safety and efficacy compared with earlier stent technologies, permanent metallic implants remain associated with long-term considerations, including restenosis, stent thrombosis, and the need for prolonged antiplatelet therapy. Drug-coated balloon therapy represents an alternative revascularization strategy that delivers an antiproliferative drug to the coronary vessel wall without implantation of a permanent scaffold. This "leave-nothing-behind" approach has been adopted in specific clinical settings and has been increasingly applied in selected coronary lesions. The absence of a permanent implant may offer potential advantages with respect to long-term vessel healing and antiplatelet therapy management. Bleeding complications after coronary intervention are clinically relevant and have been associated with adverse outcomes. Decisions regarding the duration of antiplatelet therapy require careful consideration of both ischemic and bleeding risks. While shorter durations of antiplatelet therapy have been explored following contemporary coronary interventions, optimal long-term antiplatelet strategies after drug-coated balloon-based procedures remain incompletely defined. Limited data are available regarding the clinical outcomes associated with discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy beyond 12 months in patients who have undergone initial percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-coated balloon treatment and have remained clinically stable. As a result, uncertainty persists regarding the balance of potential benefits and risks of long-term antiplatelet therapy in this population. This prospective, randomized, multicenter study is designed to compare clinical outcomes between patients who discontinue antiplatelet therapy and those who continue antiplatelet therapy after 12 months following drug-coated balloon-based percutaneous coronary intervention. The study aims to provide additional evidence to inform clinical decision-making regarding antiplatelet therapy management in patients treated with drug-coated balloons.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,042
Antiplatelet discontinuation after DCB treatment
Antiplatelet continuation after DCB treatment
Korea University Ansan Hospital
Ansan, South Korea
Kangwon National University Hospital
Chuncheon, South Korea
Kosin University Hospital
Pusan, South Korea
Korea University Guro Hospital
Seoul, South Korea
Samsung Medical Center
Seoul, South Korea
Ulsan Medical Center
Ulsan, South Korea
Ulsan University Hospital
Ulsan, South Korea
Net adverse clinical events (NACE)
A composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, clinically driven target vessel revascularization, and bleeding defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2 to 5. Non-fatal myocardial infarction is defined as a myocardial infarction diagnosed using standard clinical, electrocardiographic, and biomarker criteria that does not result in death.
Time frame: Up to 12 months after randomization
NACE
A composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, clinically driven target vessel revascularization, and bleeding defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2 to 5.
Time frame: Up to 24, 36 months after randomization
The single components of the primary endpoint
A composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, clinically driven target vessel revascularization, and bleeding defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2 to 5.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
Rate of cardiac death
Cardiac death is defined as death resulting from an immediate cardiac cause, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, fatal arrhythmia, or sudden cardiac death. Deaths of unknown cause or unwitnessed deaths without an identifiable non-cardiac cause are also classified as cardiac death. Deaths clearly attributable to non-cardiac causes, such as malignancy, infection, trauma, or other non-cardiovascular conditions, are not considered cardiac death.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
Stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic)
Stroke is defined as a new, sudden onset of a focal or global neurological deficit lasting 24 hours or longer, or resulting in death, with a vascular cause. Both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke are included. The diagnosis is confirmed by clinical assessment and supported by brain imaging when available. Transient ischemic attacks (TIA), defined as neurological symptoms resolving within 24 hours without evidence of infarction or hemorrhage, are not considered stroke.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
Target lesion failure
A composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
Angina severity measured with Seattle Angina Questionnaires
Angina severity is assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), a validated, patient-reported questionnaire designed to measure the impact of angina on daily life. The questionnaire evaluates angina-related symptoms, physical limitation, and quality of life. Higher scores indicate fewer angina symptoms and better functional status. Changes in SAQ scores over time are used to assess angina severity during follow-up.
Time frame: At baseline and 12 months after randomization
Cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness is defined as an economic evaluation comparing the costs and clinical outcomes of the study treatment strategies. Direct medical costs related to treatment, follow-up care, hospitalizations, and management of clinical events are assessed and compared in relation to clinical outcomes during the follow-up period. Cost-effectiveness is evaluated to determine the relative economic value of discontinuing versus continuing antiplatelet therapy.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
Sex difference in NACE
Sex differences are assessed by comparing the incidence of NACE between male and female participants during follow-up.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
Comparison of NACE in DM patients
NACE in patients with diabetes mellitus is assessed as a composite of ischemic and bleeding events during follow-up after randomization.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
NACE in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Acute coronary syndrome was defined as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or unstable angina.
Time frame: Up to 12, 24, 36 months after randomization
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