Effect of ticagrelor and clopidogrel on platelet aggregation function after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

In this study, phosphorylation levels of vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) were detectedby flow cytometry (FCM) to investigate the effects of ticagrelor and clopidogrel on platelet aggregationfunction (PAF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Eighty patients with ACS treated by PCI were enrolled in this study. They were randomly dividedinto a ticagrelor group (group A, 40 cases) and clopidogrel group (group B, 40 cases). The levels of VASPphosphorylation in platelets were measured with FCM before drug treatment and at 24 hours, 7 days and1 month after PCI treatment. In addition, the platelet reactivity index (PRI) was calculated and recorded,while the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and bleeding events within 1 monthafter PCI intervention in the two groups was analyzed. The results showed that the PRI of group A wassignificantly lower than that of group B at 24 hours, 7 days and 1 month after PCI intervention (P<0.001).Significant difference was observed in the PRI of the two groups before drug treatment and at 24 hours,7 days and 1 month after PCI intervention (P<0.001). The overall mean values of PRI between the twogroups were also significantly different (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the percentage of PRI ≥ 50% in groupA at different time points was significantly lower than that of group B (P<0.01). Nevertheless, there wasno significant difference between the two groups in terms of the incidence of MACE and bleeding eventswithin 1 month after PCI (P>0.05). In conclusion, compared to clopidogrel, ticagrelor reduces PAF morestrongly and faster, which effectively reduced recurrence of post-PCI intervention ischemic cardiovascularevents without increasing the risk of bleeding during a short period.