Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society
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The optimal antithrombotic treatment for patients on oral anticoagulants (OAC) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial. We analyzed the safety and efficacy of dual therapy with OAC plus clopidogrel in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients receiving drug-eluting stents (DES). ⋯ The data generated from this large single-center experience in AF patients treated with DES revealed that dual therapy with OAC plus clopidogrel for 6-12 months followed by monotherapy with OAC appears both safe and effective at long-term follow-up. However, after clopidogrel cessation, maintaining therapeutic anticoagulation with an INR >2 is essential to prevent both thrombotic and embolic events.