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Optimization of Antiplatelet Therapy in STEMI

  • Coronary Artery Disease (D Feldman and V Voudris, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Antiplatelet therapy is an essential component of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel has previously been the standard of care for STEMI management, but the advent of newer, more potent P2Y12 inhibitors has expanded the options for the management of STEMI. As compared with clopidogrel, these newer P2Y12 agents—such as prasugrel and ticagrelor—allow for further reductions in ischemic end points, without the robust increases in bleeding seen in previous studies of antithrombotic therapies. Understanding the nuances of these newer agents allows optimization of therapy for the individual patient and circumstance. Ultimately, combining these newer therapies, in specific populations, and specific approaches—alternative access strategies (e.g., radial)—may allow us to maximize efficacy and reduce the risk of antiplatelet therapies in treating patients with STEMI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Encino, CA, USA

    Abhishek Sinha MD

  2. Central Arizona Heart Specialists, Chandler, AZ, USA

    Kush Agrawal MD RPVI

  3. Cardiovascular Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Rahul Sakhuja MD MPP MSc

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  1. Abhishek Sinha MD
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  2. Kush Agrawal MD RPVI
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  3. Rahul Sakhuja MD MPP MSc
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Correspondence to Rahul Sakhuja MD MPP MSc.

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Abhishek Sinha and Kush Agrawal are primary co-authors.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Coronary Artery Disease

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Sinha, A., Agrawal, K. & Sakhuja, R. Optimization of Antiplatelet Therapy in STEMI. Curr Treat Options Cardio Med 19, 65 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-017-0562-2

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