Coming safely to a stop: a review of platelet activity after cessation of antiplatelet drugs

Abstract

The platelet P2Y12 antagonists are widely used, usually in combination with aspirin, to prevent atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes during percutaneous coronary intervention and after placement of arterial stents. Inhibition by clopidogrel or prasugrel lasts for the lifetime of the affected platelets and platelet haemostatic function gradually recovers after stopping the drug, as new unaffected platelets are formed. The optimal durations for dual antiplatelet therapy are prescribed by clinical guidelines. Continuation beyond the recommended duration is associated with an increased mortality, mainly associated with major bleeding. Fear of a ‘rebound’ of prothrombotic platelet activity on stopping the drug has provoked much discussion and many studies. However, review of the available literature reveals no evidence for production of hyper-reactive platelets after cessation of clopidogrel in patients who are stable. Any increase in acute coronary and other vascular events after stopping seems most likely therefore to be due to premature discontinuation or disruption of treatment while thrombotic risk is still high. No difference in rebound was found with the newer P2Y12 inhibitors, although ticagrelor and prasugrel are more potent platelet inhibitors than clopidogrel. Recent randomized controlled trials confirm it is safe to stop the thienopyridine and continue with aspirin alone in most patients after the duration of treatment recommended by the guidelines. Decisions on when to stop therapy in individuals, however, remain challenging and there is a growing rationale for platelet testing to assist clinical judgement in certain situations such as patients stopping dual antiplatelet therapy before surgery or in individuals at highest bleeding or thrombotic risk.