Recent Advances in Antiplatelet Therapy for ACS Patients [Vol. 1] Podcast

Faculty

Needs Statement

The practice of medicine is changing almost daily. Strategies that hasten adherence to guidelines and optimize patient care are being developed and utilized. Appropriate therapy to reduce atherothrombotic risk in patients with acute coronary syndromes, and stent placement is important in reducing event risk. Physicians who treat these patients must be aware and understand the opportunities, techniques and procedures to improve patient care.

It has recently been suggested that DES are associated with an increased risk of late stent thrombosis, when compared to BMS. Obtaining an understanding of all available evidence is critical to allow physicians treating these patients to determine whether they agree or disagree, enabling them to make the soundest clinical decisions when selecting therapy for their patients. Thrombosis is the greatest risk in these lesions and the stents currently utilized were not developed specifically for use in these complex cases. Dual antiplatelet therapies as tested in the PRINCIPLE trial and evaluated in the longer term out-patient setting in the analysis of Spertus et al, are key to avoiding thrombosis in these patients.

In STEMI ACS, the role of early antithrombotic therapies and device interventions to achieve reperfusion of the occluded is key to salvaging myocardium. Results from FAST-MI trial provides new information on pre-hospital use of drug therapy. Health care professionals need to be educated on these data and familiar with how to incorporate
this new information on optimal combining of therapies will improve their patient outcomes.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for cardiovascular medicine specialists.

Objectives

Upon completion of this continuing medical education activity, participants should be able to:

1. Understand the need to improve clinical outcomes in patients with ST elevation MI by hastening reperfusion
strategies and reducing the total ischemic time;
2. To gain a better understanding of strategies for thrombosis prevention in patients with acute coronary syndromes using anti-platelet therapies;
3. Discuss the clinical relevance of late-stent thrombosis after drug-eluting stents vs. bare-metal stents, and the critical role of sustained dual platelet therapy;
4. To gain a better understanding of optimal combinations of drug therapy and device therapy across the spectrum of Acute Coronary Syndrome patients in order to improve clinical outcomes in ACS patients.

Accreditation

Medicine
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Cohen reports the following relevant financial relationships: Speaker’s bureau - Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly and Company, Schering-Plough, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Contract research support - Sanofi-Aventis, Cordis; Consultation fees - Datascope.

Activity Sponsorship

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Daiichi-Sankyo, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company.