title: Dual antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary prevention.
abstract: The concomitant use of aspirin and an ADP receptor (P2Y12) blocker, also known as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), has been extensively investigated as a primary and secondary prevention strategy in an effort to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. In this manuscript the authors review the current guideline recommendations for DAPT and discuss the scientific data that supports these recommendations. Reported are also the scientific knowledge gaps and how future studies are likely to delineate these issues. Incremental knowledge is not likely to be an alternative to individualized care provided by the astute clinician to his patient. In consideration for prescribing DAPT (drug, dosage and duration) the clinician will have to weigh the potential benefits (reduction in death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke) and risks (severe or life-threatening bleeding) for each and every patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital and New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhruvakumar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerula
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klapholz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaluski
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine