Overview

With an increased understanding of the importance of dual antiplatelet therapy, physicians can reduce the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome, as well as those who have undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention. Long-term adherence to medications is also critical, and physicians should understand that these agents require careful management, due to their significant clinical limitations, including suboptimal protection against ischemic cardiovascular complications and risks of bleeding.

This program will discuss the importance of diligent long-term dual antiplatelet therapy in post-ACS patients to protect against thrombotic events. It will also explore the limitations of current platelet therapies and how they might be best managed. This education will also alert participants to the potential importance of emerging therapies that can transform the clinical management of these patients.

Program Format

Didactic lectures providing up-to-date information on dual antiplatelet therapy.

Learning Objectives

After this activity, participants should be able to:

• Explain the importance of long-term dual platelet inhibition to protect post-ACS and post-PCI patients against delayed thromboembolic events
• Describe the strengths and limitations of current antiplatelet treatment options, and the need to balance the risk reduction of ischemic thromboembolic complications while minimizing the risk of excessive bleeding
• Discuss emerging oral antiplatelet treatments suitable for long-term protection against risk of thromboembolic events

Target Audience

This conference is intended for cardiologists and internists who treat post-PCI and post-ACS patients.

Accreditation

The Potomac Center for Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation Statement

The Potomac Center for Medical Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Information

Potomac Center for Medical Education (PCME) adheres to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Commercial Support, set forth Providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous.

All persons in a position to control the content of a continuing medical education program sponsored by the Potomac Center for Medical Education are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest to PCME as well as to learners. All conflicts are identified and resolved by PCME in accordance with the Standards for Commercial Support in advance of delivery of the activity to learners.

The content of this activity was vetted by an external medical reviewer to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Paul Gurbel, MD: Investigator: Boston Scientific, Medtronic Research Grants/Support: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Haemoscope, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, NIH, Schering

Dean Keriakes, MD: Research Grants/Support: Boston Scientific, Conor Medsystems, Cordis Corp.,Daiichi Sankyo, Medtronic, Pfizer Consultant: Boston Scientific, Conor Medsystems, Cordis Corp., Core Valve, Eli Lilly & Co. Speakers Bureau: Eli Lilly & Co.

The following non-faculty content contributors reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Barry Watkins, PhD; Stephanie Stowell, MPhil; Dana Simpler, MD; Donna Fucello; Brad Pine: Nothing to Disclose

FDA Disclosure

The contents of some CME/CE activities may contain discussions of non-approved or off label uses of some agents mentioned. Please consult the prescribing information for full disclosure of approved uses.