Oral anticoagulant use in addition to antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention in acute coronary syndrome: current perspectives

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are typically managed with long-term dual antiplatelet therapy of acetylsalicylic acid plus a P2Y(12) platelet receptor antagonist; however, although effective, the risk of another vascular event within 12 months remains at approximately 10%. Considerable efforts have been made to find improved therapeutic approaches to secondary prevention in ACS. The ATLAS ACS 2-TIMI 51 trial demonstrated that rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) significantly reduced recurrent vascular events, increased the risk of major bleeding but not the risk of fatal bleeding, and resulted in reduced rates of death from cardiovascular causes. These results formed the basis for approval in Europe of rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) in conjunction with standard antiplatelet therapy for the secondary prevention of ACS.