This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an aspirin-free strategy after 3-6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone complete coronary revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Participants will be randomized to either discontinue aspirin and continue P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy or continue standard antiplatelet therapy. The primary objective is to determine whether the aspirin-free strategy reduces bleeding events without increasing ischemic events during follow-up.
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) remains a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity worldwide. Current management of ACS-including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and high-risk unstable angina (UA)-relies on early invasive revascularization using Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with contemporary Drug-Eluting Stents (DES). Following PCI, endothelial injury and stent implantation activate platelet aggregation and thrombosis, making Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) with aspirin plus a P2Y12 inhibitor the standard treatment to prevent stent thrombosis and recurrent ischemic events. International guidelines have traditionally recommended 12 months of DAPT after ACS. However, prolonged DAPT increases the risk of bleeding, including gastrointestinal and intracranial hemorrhage, which is associated with higher mortality, treatment discontinuation, poor adherence, and increased healthcare utilization. To improve the balance between ischemic protection and bleeding risk, several landmark randomized trials-including TWILIGHT, TICO, STOPDAPT-2, STOPDAPT-3, SMART-CHOICE, and GLOBAL LEADERS-have investigated abbreviated DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after 1-3 months of treatment. These studies consistently demonstrated a significant reduction in major bleeding without a corresponding increase in major ischemic outcomes, including myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis. Despite these promising findings, most available evidence has been generated in East Asian populations, where genetic factors, including CYP2C19 polymorphisms, and differences in thrombotic and bleeding risk may limit the generalizability of the results to other populations This clinical trial aims to address this important evidence gap by evaluating the safety and efficacy of abbreviated DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy in a non-Asian ACS population undergoing PCI with contemporary drug-eluting stents
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
300
Aspirin will be discontinued after 3-6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy, and participants will continue P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy for the remainder of the study follow-up
Participants will continue standard antiplatelet therapy according to current clinical practice after complete coronary revascularization.
Assiut University Hospital
Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt
Net adverse clinical events
Composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or definite/probable stent thrombosis) and major bleeding (BARC type 3 or 5).
Time frame: 12 months
Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE)
Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE): A strict composite endpoint consisting of cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or acute ischemic stroke. * Cardiovascular Mortality: Incorporates any death resulting from an acute myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, fatal cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, terminal heart failure, fatal stroke, or any death directly caused by a documented procedural complication related to the index or staged PCI. * Myocardial Infarction (MI): Diagnosed and classified in strict accordance with the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (Type 1 spontaneous, Type 2 demand mismatch, Type 4a PCI-related). * Stent Thrombosis (ST): Formally categorized according to the Academic Research Consortium (ARC) consensus definitions into definite, probable, or possible stent thrombosis. Definite Stent Thrombosis requires unequivocal angiographic confirmation of a thrombus originating within or directly adjacent to the stented segment
Time frame: 12 months
Bleeding
The primary safety outcome is the occurrence of bleeding complications, which will be characterized using the international Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) consensus
Time frame: 12 months
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