TRIPLE VERSUS DUAL ANTIPLATELET THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONAY SYNDROME UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION (PCI) IN SCB MEDICAL COLLEGE, CUTTACK, ODISHA, INDIA

Background: It has been demonstrated in previous large randomized studies that cilostazol based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) in addition to aspirin and clopidogrel based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has improved the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objective: The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of triple versus dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing PCI. Material and methods: We enrolled 200 consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing drug eluting stents implantation. Half of the patients(n=100) received dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin plus clopidogrel); rest half(n=100) received triple antiplatelet therapy ( aspirin, clopidogrel plus cilostazol). The triple antiplatelet group received cilostazol at least for 1 month. The two group of patients were followed up at interval of 1, 3 and 6 months for any major adverse cardiac events. The triple antiplatelet group had more bleeding manifestations than dual group. At the end of six months follow up both groups had no statistically significant difference in terms of major adverse cardiac events. Target vessel revascularization was more in in the dual than the triple antiplatelet group. Conclusions: Triple antiplatelet therapy seems to be superior to dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing PCI with drug eluting stents.