Combined antiplatelet therapy and oral anticoagulation: Is a balance between thromboembolism and bleeding possible?

Abstract

Chronic oral anticoagulation (OAC) treatment is mandatory in patients with mechanical heart valves, the majority of the patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), patients with deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and left ventricular thrombi. Patients on OAC, who are referred for percutaneous coronary intervention/stenting (PCI), account for about 5% of the whole population undergoing PCI [1]. Conversely, approximately 70–80% of AF patients have indications for continuous OAC, and coronary artery disease (CAD) is present in more than 20% of AF population [2,3].