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Shorter Dual Antiplatelet Duration Holds Up in NIPPON

Cardiovascular Surgery
Interventional Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery
Valvular, Myocardial, Pericardial, Pulmonary, Congenital Heart Disease
Venous Thromboembolism


Rome, Italy – 28 August 2016 – A short-term course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is non-inferior to a longer course in patients who have undergone placement of a particular kind of drug-eluting stent (DES), researchers reported here.

Results of the NIPPON (NoborI dual antiplatelet therapy as aPPrOpriate DuratioN) study, presented at ESC Congress 2016, showed similar rates of “net adverse clinical and cerebrovascular events” (NACCE) – the main outcome – with both 6 and 18-month DAPT durations, and no difference in bleeding complications.

“Based on these findings, a combination of short DAPT and a newer DES with bioabsorbable abluminal coating should be able to minimize the incidence of thrombotic events and bleeding complications simultaneously,” concluded investigator Masato Nakamura, MD, PhD, of Toho University Ohashi Medical Center in Tokyo, Japan.

All patients in the trial had received the Nobori bioabsorbable abluminal-coated stent, with DAPT consisting of aspirin (81–162 mg/day) combined with clopidogrel (75 mg/day) or ticlopidine (200 mg/day).

The study enrolled 3,775 patients with coronary artery disease or acute myocardial infarction who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention and stent placement at 130 Japanese institutions.

It incorporated broad inclusion criteria to reflect the real-world clinical setting.

However, an interim analysis showed slow enrolment and substantially lower events than expected, and the study was terminated early.

Results from only the first 2,772 patients to be followed for at least 18 months showed there was a 0.46% difference in occurrence of the primary endpoint among patients randomised to either short or long-term DAPT (1.92% vs 1.45% respectively), confirming the non-inferiority of short-term therapy.

The rate of bleeding events was similar (0.73 % of the long-term and 0.96% of the short-term DAPT group), as was the rate of stent thrombosis (0.07% in both).

“The results of the present study should be interpreted with caution before trying to draw firm conclusions,” cautioned Professor Nakamura. “The interpretation of the NIPPON trial is complicated by the fact that the event rate was lower than the expected incidence of the primary endpoint in both groups. Therefore, the statistical power may not have been adequate to fully assess the risk of primary endpoint.”

 Ends

Notes to editor

Sources of funding: Associations for Establishment of Evidence in Interventions Studies.

Disclosures: Dr. Nakamura has received research grant support and honoraria from Terumo Corporation, Sanofi, and Daiichi Sankyo.

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About the European Society of Cardiology

The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 120 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives.

About ESC Congress 2016

ESC Congress is the world’s largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2016 takes place 27 to 31 August at the Fiera di Roma in Rome, Italy. The scientific programme is here. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org

This press release accompanies both a presentation and an ESC press conference at the ESC Congress 2016. Edited by the ESC from material supplied by the investigators themselves, this press release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology. The content of the press release has been approved by the presenter.