A new Danish study that was conducted by a team of researchers is suggesting that triple antithrombotic therapy is linked to a higher bleeding risk as opposed to less intensive methods for AF patients who present with myocardial infarction (MI) or those patients who have percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
“We found an immediate and persistent high risk of serious bleeding with recommended triple therapy (with vitamin K antagonist, aspirin and clopidogrel) in atrial fibrillation patients suffering from an acute coronary event,” Dr. Morten Lamberts told Reuters Health in an email.
Lamberts and his colleagues conducted their study by analyzing data collected from 11,480 participants. For the study, they compared patient bleeding rates according to antithrombotic therapy. As soon as the patients started with the triple therapy that included a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), aspirin and clopidogrel, their bleeding rates got higher than when the patients were taking different regimens. This was regardless of how much time passed. Those other regimens that the researchers were talking about included “single antiplatelet therapy with aspirin or clopidogrel; vitamin K antagonist (VKA) monotherapy; dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel; and VKA plus aspirin or clopidogrel,” according to what the team said in the August 6 online edition of Circulation.
After a period of 30 days, the patient’s major bleeding rates for every 100 person years were “22.6 for triple therapy, 20.3 for VKA plus a single antiplatelet therapy, and 14.3 for DAPT,” as reported by Medscape.
In the end, the researchers said, “Our data of real life patients suggests even short-term triple therapy is hazardous in regard to bleeding risk.”
Bleeding has always been a risk for AF patients, but medications used to treat AF are also a worry. One of the medications is the anticoagulant medication Multaq, made by Sanofi-Aventis. Multaq has been linked to liver failure and worsening of the heart condition, and because of this, the drug is only recommended for use if other medications for AF fail.
If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.