SATURN - A prospective randomized double-blind controlled trial to assess efficacy and safety of a Shortened AnTiplatelet therapy plus direct oral anticoagulation vs. standard of care in patients Undergoing stentimplantation with atRial fibrillatioN

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christoph Olivier
• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 550991017

More than two million people in Germany live with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of stroke. To prevent strokes, most patients receive blood-thinning medication. If a coronary stent is needed - often in older individuals - additional platelet inhibition is usually prescribed for six months. However, this dual therapy significantly raises the risk of bleeding: about one in seven patients requires medical attention for a bleeding event during this time. The SATURN trial investigates whether shortening this dual therapy to just 30 days after stent implantation can reduce bleeding complications by half, compared to the standard six-month regimen. The study will enroll 1,542 patients with atrial fibrillation who have received a coronary stent. After 30 days of dual therapy, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: either they continue with standard dual therapy for five more months, or they switch to single blood-thinning medication plus a placebo. This is a double-blind study: Neither the participants nor the medical team will know who receives which treatment. Six months after stent placement, the study will assess whether bleeding or other serious complications, such as heart attack, stroke, or death, have occurred. It will also evaluate quality of life and time spent in the hospital. If the group receiving the shortened therapy (with placebo) experiences significantly fewer bleeding events without an increased risk of other complications, this strategy may be recommended in future treatment guidelines. Such a change could influence care practices worldwide and improve safety for millions of patients with atrial fibrillation.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Trials
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Dirk Westermann