Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

In this study we plan to continue our previous research on individualized approach to platelet aniaggregation therapy in patients with an ACS treated with a PCI. The subjects included in this study will be adult patients successfully treated in our department for ACS (unstabile angina pectoris, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation myocardal infarction) with a PCI, a coronary stent implantation and the subsequent dual platelet antiaggregation therapy combining ASA and a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor. The diagnosis of different types of ACS will be made depending on the clinical presentation, ECG findings and changes in cardiac biomarker serum levels (troponin T and MB creatinine kinase isoezyme). Percutaneous coronary revascularization and the dual platelet antiaggregation therapy are the basis of the modern ACS treatment. Because the newer P2Y12 receptor inhibitors are not momentarily widely available in Croatia, the initial treatment will include the combination of ASA and clopidogrel. The exclusion critera are as following: postinterventional continuous GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy, thrombocytopenia (<150x10E9/L), signifcant renal failure (creatinine>200 µmol/L), anemia (Htc<30%), hemorrhagic diathesis, history of recent hemorrhagic or ischemic CVI (within 6 months of admission), recent surgical procedure (within 6 weeks of admission) and an indication for chronic anticoagulant therapy. Also patients older than 80 years of age will not be included into this study. The necessary number of subjects is between 100 and 120.

Aggregometry using the ADP test will be done to all the patients without the exclusion criteria that were successfully treated wth PCI. The testing will be done within 24 hours of the intervention in order to determine the pharmacodynamic effect P2Y12 receptor inhibitors have on platelets and their reactivity. The optimal platelet reactivity (according to the international consensus) is between 19 and 46 U (49). The patients that will have an increased residual PR (>46 U) after being given the loading doses of clopidogrel will be included in this study and randomized into three groups using a computer software (Research Randomizer). The patients randomized into the first group will be given the newer P2Y12 receptor inhibitor ticagrelor during the 12 months. The second group of patients will be given ticagrelor initially, and after the first 30 days it will be replaced with clopidogrel, that will be given for the remaining time period (up to 12 months). Clopidogrel dosing will be modified according to the results of the aggregometry using the ADP test. The third group of patients will have the same therapy regiment as the second group, but will be given the standard doses of clopidogrel regardless of the aggregometry findings. The follow-up period, during which the dual platelet antiaggregation therapy will be administered, is going to be 12 months for each patient. Within this time-frame, total of ten PR measurements will be done. The measurements in the first month are scheduled as follows: on the first, second, third, seventh and thirtieth day after the ACS and the PCI. The following measurements are scheduled two, three, six, nine and twelve months after the ACS and the PCI.