AntiCoagulation Versus AcetylSalicylic Acid After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Aortic stenosis is a highly prevalent valvular disease and an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an effective intervention in patients with severe aortic stenosis and low surgical risk. The procedure is highly effective, safe, and widely implemented. Current recommendations support transcatheter treatment of younger patients, including patients from 65 years of age with low surgical risk. This practice increases the importance of long-term valve maintenance.

Observational data have suggested that early signs of valve degeneration (i.e. hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening/thrombosis/reduced leaflet motion) are associated with an increased risk of embolic events. This is an increasing problem with emerging indications in younger populations. Because both ischemic and bleeding complications after TAVI can be life-threatening, it is important to establish the optimal anti-thrombotic treatment regime. Use of oral anticoagulation after implantation for bioprosthetic valves have been associated with resolved valve degeneration and possible favourable clinical effects.

The current practice guidelines recommend that oral anticoagulation may be considered for 3 months after open surgical bioprosthetic valve implantation. Patients with an independent indication for oral anticoagulation (i.e. atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism) are recommended to continue this treatment lifelong, but there is no recommendation for oral anticoagulation following TAVI in patients without other indications. In patients without indication for oral anticoagulation, the use of double anti-platelet therapy for 3-6 months following TAVI is recommended. However, single anti-platelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) without clopidogrel has been reported to improve bleeding outcomes and a composite of bleeding and ischemic outcomes. The effect of on oral anticoagulation-based treatment strategy compared to the standard single anti-platelet treatment strategy for valve maintenance after TAVI is unknown.

Increased anti-thrombotic treatment intensity may come at the cost of increased bleeding risk. Dual anti-platelet therapy and combination therapy with anticoagulation and anti-platelet therapy have both been associated with unfavourable outcomes. Combined anti-platelet and anti-coagulation treatment has been shown to reduce valve degeneration at the cost of increased bleeding. Conversely, single anti-platelet therapy and anti-coagulation with a direct oral anti-coagulant (DOAC) have been associated with similar bleeding risk. Bleeding rates in patients treated with anti-coagulation after TAVI have been reported to be slightly higher than in patients treated with ASA after TAVI, but patients with conventional indications for anti-coagulation have higher baseline bleeding risk than those without such indications. Therefore, the risk of bleeding in patients treated with DOAC or ASA following TAVI may be similar, but no randomized trials have been performed.

ACASA-TAVI will include 360 patients > 65 years and < 80 years of age who have undergone successful TAVI and have no conventional indication for DOAC in a prospective randomized open-label blinded-endpoint (PROBE) study. The intervention arm will be 12 month therapy with an anti-Xa type DOAC (without antiplatelet therapy) and the active control arm will be standard dose ASA. After 12 months, the intervention group will be switched to ASA maintenance. All patients will undergo clinical assessment, cardiac CT and echocardiography at 12 months with blinded endpoint adjudication by an independent committee.