Optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after drug eluting stent remains unclear

Longer duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after implantation of a drug eluting stent is associated with fewer myocardial infarctions but more major bleeding than a shorter duration, a systematic review has found.

Current guidelines recommend six or 12 months of treatment with aspirin plus a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or prasugrel) to reduce the risk of stent thrombosis. But the optimal duration of therapy …