Pre-procedural dual antiplatelet therapy and bleeding events following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)

•Pre-procedural dual antiplatelet therapy before TAVI is frequent•In short-term it does not increase major bleeding or transfusion rate•GFR < 30 ml/min is the strongest independent predictor of bleeding after TAVI•Baseline anemia predicts transfusion following TAVI

IntroductionTranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is associated with bleeding that increases mortality. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended in TAVI, however little is known about pre-procedural DAPT use and its impact on hemostasis. We sought to determine the frequency, predictors and bleeding events in patients receiving DAPT before TAVI.MethodsThree-hundred-and-three (n = 303, 78.6 ± 7.6 years, 49% female, EuroScore 23.1 ± 16.9) consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were prospectively analyzed and followed for in-hospital events. According to pre-procedural antiplatelet status study population was divided into 2 groups: patients receiving aspirin and clopidogrel (DAPT) and those on aspirin only or no antiplatelet therapy (noDAPT).ResultsPre-procedural DAPT was used in 139 cases (46%). Previous PCI (OR 4.8, [2.8-8.3], p < 0.0001), implantation of self-expandable prosthesis (OR 2.2, [1.2-4], p = 0.007) femoral access (OR 2.2, [1.1-4.5], p = 0.029) and platelet count (OR 1.006, [1.002-1.01], p = 0.002) were identified as independent predictors of pre-procedural DAPT. No difference was observed in the rates of any bleeding (23% in DAPT vs. 24.4% in noDAPT, p = 0.930) or major/life-threatening bleeding (12.2% in DAPT vs. 14.7% in noDAPT, p = 0.715). Propensity-score matching analysis did not alter the results. GFR < 30 ml/min was the strongest predictor of bleeding (OR 4.3, [1.9-9.9], p = 0.0005). There was a trend towards lower frequency of MI and stroke/TIA in DAPT as compared with noDAPT (3.6% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.082).ConclusionsPre-procedural DAPT is frequent and does not increase short-term bleeding complications or need for transfusion following TAVI. Possible impact of DAPT use before TAVI on ischemic complications needs to be investigated in larger populations.