Warfarin remains the cornerstone of stroke prevention in patients with AF. However, many patients are unable or unwilling to take it. Could antiplatelet therapy fill this gap? How might investigational anticoagulants change the playing field? Dr Naccarelli leads a panel discussion with Drs Connolly and Camm.

The optimal management of patients with ACS is an ever-evolving process; clinical experience and practice often outpace guidelines. Watch Drs Bohm, Camm, Fox, Mehta, and Connolly address the state-of-the-art management of ACS and the role of antiplatelets in ACS and beyond.

Current guidelines for thienopyridines in PCI note the lack of RCT data for higher loading doses. Read Dr Wang's lowdown on loading doses, including recent presentations from the 2008 SCAI-ACCi2 meeting. Then watch Drs Mehta and Mehran discuss where CURRENT-OASIS-7 will fit in.

If we're all looking at the same data, why do the European and US guidelines for the treatment of ACS differ in terms of initiation, dosing, and choices of pharmacological therapies? Drs Ohman, Montalescot, Pollack and Fox discuss the similarities and differences.

This program will review the guidelines recommendations for and actual use of antiplatelet therapy in patients with atherothrombotic disease, practical issues in the use of antiplatelet therapy, and new trials of antiplatelet agents

What is the future of adjunctive pharmacology given the results of the HORIZONS and TRITON trials?

Trading safety for efficacy with antiplatelet agents

This program discusses the optimal use of combination antiplatelet therapy in non-ST elevation ACS, both in the acute and long-term setting. Additionally, the program will touch upon the early use of combination antiplatelet therapy in the setting of STEMI. Referencing the recent joint statement on DES by the Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiologists and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the program will also discuss optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy, strategies to prevent early discontinuation, and potential management strategies for patients who may require surgery while on dual antiplatelet therapy.

Antiplatelet therapy is the mainstay of comprehensive care for a broad spectrum of patients with atherothrombotic disease. Join Dr. Peter Berger as he leads an expert multidisciplinary panel of Drs. Ferguson, Pollack, and Simon in discussing case studies involving acute and long-term antiplatelet therapies.