Ticagrelor in patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease with a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention (THEMIS-PCI): a phase 3, placebo-controlled, randomised trial

Review of the Ticagrelor Trials Evidence Base

Ticagrelor is a platelet P2Y12 receptor inhibitor approved for use in patients with acute coronary syndromes, coronary artery disease, and low-moderate risk acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack. Clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor on ischemic and bleeding outcomes for different indications and with varying treatment approaches. As a result, there is a large body of clinical evidence demonstrating different degrees of net clinical benefit compared with other platelet inhibitor drugs based on indication, patient characteristics, clinical presentation, treatment duration, and other factors. We provide a review of the major trials of ticagrelor in the context of other randomized trials of clopidogrel and prasugrel to organize the volume of available information, elevate corroborating and conflicting data, and identify potential gaps as areas for further exploration of optimal antiplatelet treatment.

Net clinical benefit of extended dual pathway inhibition according to baseline risk in patients with chronic coronary syndrome: a COMPASS substudy

AIMS

Guidelines recommend extended dual pathway inhibition (DPI) with aspirin and rivaroxaban in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) at high ischaemic risk. The CHADS-P2A2RC score improves risk prediction and enables antithrombotic treatment allocation in these patients. This study evaluated the net clinical benefit of DPI treatment according to baseline risk as classified by the CHADS-P2A2RC score in patients with CCS included in the COMPASS (Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies) trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

COMPASS patients with CCS (n = 14 670), randomized to aspirin alone or DPI, were stratified according to cardiovascular risk using the CHADS-P2A2RC score. Endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause death, fatal/critical organ bleeding, and composite adverse events (MACE and bleeding). Net clinical benefit was the 30-month risk difference of MACE and bleeding. Thirty-month incidences of MACE [7.9% vs. 3.9%, hazard ratio (HR) 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83-2.18] and fatal/critical organ bleeding (1.2% vs. 0.8%, HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.06-1.92) were higher in high-risk (CHADS-P2A2RC ≥ 4) than in low/moderate-risk (CHADS-P2A2RC < 4) patients. DPI reduced MACE (low/moderate risk: HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.47-0.82; high risk: HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68-0.99, P for interaction 0.09) and all-cause death (low/moderate risk: HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.91; high risk: HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.65-1.00, P for interaction 0.29), without substantially increasing fatal/critical organ bleeding (low/moderate risk: HR 1.35, 95% CI 0.72-2.53; high risk: HR 1.18, 95% CI 0.73-1.90, P for interaction 0.73). DPI provided net clinical benefit of similar magnitude in low/moderate-risk (-1.81%, 95% CI -3.00 to -0.62) and high-risk (-1.96%, 95% CI -3.60 to -0.33) CCS patients.

CONCLUSION

As classified by the CHADS-P2A2RC score, low/moderate- and high-risk patients with CCS derived similar net clinical benefit and reduction in all-cause death from DPI treatment.

Optimal Medical Therapy for Chronic Coronary Disease in 2024: Focus on Antithrombotic Therapy

Antiplatelet therapy is the cornerstone of the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Aspirin is indicated for all patients with chronic coronary disease to prevent recurrent ischemic events. A more potent antithrombotic therapy-including P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy, dual antiplatelet therapy, or vascular dose anticoagulation-reduces the risk of ischemic events but also increases bleeding risk. Clinicians must weigh both ischemic risks and bleeding risks when determining an optimal antithrombotic therapy for patients with chronic coronary disease, and soliciting patient involvement in shared decision-making is critical.

Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients Who Have Undergone Revascularization Within the Past Year: Which Agents and for How Long?

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor is recommended for at least 6 and 12 months following percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents among patients with stable ischemic heart disease and acute coronary syndrome, respectively. Additional exposure to antiplatelet therapy reduces ischemic events but also increases bleeding risk. Conversely, shorter durations of DAPT are preferred among those at high bleeding risk. Hence, decisions surrounding duration of DAPT after revascularization should include clinical judgment, assessment of the risk of bleeding and ischemic events, and time after revascularization.

Limb Outcomes With Ticagrelor Plus Aspirin in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Ticagrelor reduced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and increased bleeding in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease. Limb events including revascularization, acute limb ischemia (ALI), and amputation are major morbidities in patients with T2DM and atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine the effect of ticagrelor on limb events.

METHODS

Patients were randomized to ticagrelor or placebo on top of aspirin and followed for a median of 3 years. MACE (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), limb events (ALI, amputation, revascularization), and bleeding were adjudicated by an independent and blinded clinical events committee. The presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) was reported at baseline.

RESULTS

Of 19,220 patients randomized, 1,687 (8.8%) had PAD at baseline. In patients receiving placebo, PAD was associated with higher MACE (10.7% vs 7.3%; HR: 1.48; P < 0.001) and limb (9.5% vs 0.8%; HR: 10.67; P < 0.001) risk. Ticagrelor reduced limb events (1.6% vs 1.3%; HR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.61-0.96; P = 0.022) with significant reductions for revascularization (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.62-0.99; P = 0.044) and ALI (HR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.70; P = 0.009). The benefit was consistent with or without PAD (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.58-1.11; and HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.55-1.05, respectively; Pinteraction = 0.81). There was no effect modification of ticagrelor vs placebo based on PAD for MACE (Pinteraction = 0.40) or TIMI major bleeding (Pinteraction = 0.3239).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T2DM and atherosclerosis are at high risk of limb events. Ticagrelor decreased this risk, but increased bleeding. Future trials evaluating the combination of ticagrelor and aspirin would further elucidate the benefit/risk of such therapy in patients with PAD, including those without coronary artery disease. (A Study Comparing Cardiovascular Effects of Ticagrelor Versus Placebo in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus [THEMIS]: NCT01991795).

Current Management of In-Stent Restenosis

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains the primary cause of target lesion failure following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), resulting in 10-year incidences of target lesion revascularization at a rate of approximately 20%. The treatment of ISR is challenging due to its inherent propensity for recurrence and varying susceptibility to available strategies, influenced by a complex interplay between clinical and lesion-specific conditions. Given the multiple mechanisms contributing to the development of ISR, proper identification of the underlying substrate, especially by using intravascular imaging, becomes pivotal as it can indicate distinct therapeutic requirements. Among standalone treatments, drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty and drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation have been the most effective. The main advantage of a DCB-based approach is the avoidance of an additional metallic layer, which may otherwise enhance neointimal hyperplasia, provide the substratum for developing neoatherosclerosis, and expose the patient to a persistently higher risk of coronary ischemic events. On the other hand, target vessel scaffolding by DES implantation confers relevant mechanical advantages over DCB angioplasty, generally resulting in larger luminal gain, while drug elution from the stent surface ensures the inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia. Nevertheless, repeat stenting with DES also implies an additional permanent metallic layer that may reiterate and promote the mechanisms leading to ISR. Against this background, the selection of either DCB or DES on a patient- and lesion-specific basis as well as the implementation of adjuvant treatments, including cutting/scoring balloons, intravascular lithotripsy, and rotational atherectomy, hold the potential to improve the effectiveness of ISR treatment over time. In this review, we comprehensively assessed the available evidence from randomized trials to define contemporary interventional treatment of ISR and provide insights for future directions.

Ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor plus aspirin following percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with versus without diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one among the major causes of mortality all round the globe. Several anti-platelet regimens have been proposed following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this analysis, we aimed to show the adverse clinical outcomes associated with ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor and aspirin following PCI in patients with versus without diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched by four authors from September to November 2023. Cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding events were the endpoints of this analysis. Revman 5.4 software was used to conduct this meta-analysis. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to represent the results which were generated.

RESULTS

Three studies with a total number of 22,574 participants enrolled from years 2013 to 2019 were included in this analysis. Results of this analysis showed that DM was associated with significantly higher risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (RR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.49 - 2.00; P = 0.00001), all-cause mortality (RR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.73 - 2.66; P = 0.00001), cardiac death (RR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.42 - 5.60; P = 0.003), stroke (RR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.16 - 2.74; P = 0.009), myocardial infarction (RR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.17 - 2.26; P = 0.004) and stent thrombosis (RR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.03 - 2.94; P = 0.04) when compared to patients without DM. However, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) defined minor and major bleedings, bleeding defined according to the academic research consortium (BARC) type 3c (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.14 - 11.90; P = 0.81) and BARC type 2, 3 or 5 (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.85 - 1.62; P = 0.34) were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

In patients who were treated with ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of DAPT with ticagrelor and aspirin, DM was an independent risk factor for the significantly increased adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, TIMI and BARC defined bleeding events were not significantly different in patients with versus without DM.

10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Personalized Approaches to Antiplatelet Treatment for Cardiovascular Diseases: An Umbrella Review

Antiplatelet therapy is the cornerstone of antithrombotic prevention in patients with established atherosclerosis, since it has been proven to reduce coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral thrombotic events. However, the protective effect of antiplatelet agents is counterbalanced by an increase of bleeding events that impacts on patients' mortality and morbidity. Over the last years, great efforts have been made toward personalized antithrombotic strategies according to the individual bleeding and ischemic risk profile, aiming to maximizing the net clinical benefit. The development of risk scores, consensus definitions, and the new promising artificial intelligence tools, as well as the assessment of platelet responsiveness using platelet function and genetic testing, are now part of an integrated approach to tailored antithrombotic management. Moreover, novel strategies are available including dual antiplatelet therapy intensity and length modulation in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization, the use of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy for long-term secondary prevention, the implementation of parenteral antiplatelet agents in high-ischemic risk clinical settings, and combination of antiplatelet agents with low-dose factor Xa inhibitors (dual pathway inhibition) in patients suffering from polyvascular disease. This review summarizes the currently available evidence and provides an overview of the principal risk-stratification tools and antiplatelet strategies to inform treatment decisions in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Efficacy and risks of drug-coated balloon treatment for coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis

Introduction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) often leads to myocardial ischemia and impaired cardiac function, significantly impacting the well-being and quality of life (QOL) of individuals. The use of drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment has become a widespread approach in CAD management. However, currently, there is limited evidence available for the meta-analysis of DCB treatment in CAD.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and VIP Database, covering data from the inception of each database up to April 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding DCB treatment were meticulously chosen based on independent assessment of eligibility and scope by three researchers. Literature screening and data extraction were independently performed by two researchers, while methodological quality of the enrolled studies was assessed using the risk of bias (ROB) tool developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3.

Results

Following the screening process, seven studies were included. Four studies demonstrated an odds ratio (OR) of 0.66 for target lesion revascularization (TLR), five reported an OR of 0.41 for postoperative myocardial infarction (MI), four indicated a mean difference (MD) of 6.03 in the degree of stenosis (DOS), five exhibited an MD of 0.13 for late lumen loss (LLL), five reported an OR of 0.33 for cardiac death, and two presented an OR of 1.01 for binary restenosis (BR).

Conclusion

DCB demonstrated a comparable efficacy to drug-eluting stents (DES) in treating CAD, with relatively lower associated risks.

Management of Residual Risk in Chronic Coronary Syndromes. Clinical Pathways for a Quality-Based Secondary Prevention

Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), which encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical presentations of coronary artery disease (CAD), is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent guidelines for the management of CCS emphasize the dynamic nature of the CAD process, replacing the term "stable" with "chronic", as this disease is never truly "stable". Despite significant advances in the treatment of CAD, patients with CCS remain at an elevated risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) due to the so-called residual cardiovascular risk. Several pathogenetic pathways (thrombotic, inflammatory, metabolic, and procedural) may distinctly contribute to the residual risk in individual patients and represent a potential target for newer preventive treatments. Identifying the level and type of residual cardiovascular risk is essential for selecting the most appropriate diagnostic tests and follow-up procedures. In addition, new management strategies and healthcare models could further support available treatments and lead to important prognostic benefits. This review aims to provide an overview of the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the management of patients with CCS and to promote more effective multidisciplinary care.

Personalised antiplatelet therapies for coronary artery disease: what the future holds

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death globally, and antiplatelet therapy is crucial for both its prevention and treatment. Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors are commonly used to reduce the risk of thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and stent thrombosis. However, the benefits associated with the use of antiplatelet drugs also come with a risk of bleeding complications. The ever-growing understanding of the poor prognostic implications associated with bleeding has set the foundations for defining strategies that can mitigate such safety concern without any trade-off in antithrombotic protection. To this extent, personalised antiplatelet therapy has emerged as a paradigm that optimizes the balance between safety and efficacy by customizing treatment to the individual patient's needs and risk profile. Accurate risk stratification for both bleeding and thrombosis can aid in selecting the optimal antiplatelet therapy and prevent serious and life-threatening outcomes. Risk stratification has traditionally included clinical and demographic characteristics and has expanded to incorporate angiographic features and laboratory findings. The availability of bedside platelet function testing as well as rapid genotyping assays has also allowed for a more individualized selection of antiplatelet therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art and future trends in personalised antiplatelet therapy for patients with CAD, with emphasis on those presenting with an acute coronary syndrome and undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. The aim is to provide clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of personalised antiplatelet therapy and facilitate informed clinical decision-making.

Comparison of Different Chronic Maintenance Antithrombotic Strategies in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background

Optimal antithrombotic therapy during the chronic maintenance period in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown. We compared five kinds of mainstream chronic maintenance antithrombotic strategies at least one year after the acute phase: aspirin alone, clopidogrel alone, ticagrelor alone, continued dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for a period of time, and maintenance with aspirin combined with a low-dose anticoagulant such as rivaroxaban.

Methods

Ten randomized, controlled trials were selected using PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library through February 2023. The primary outcome was main adverse cardiac events (MACEs), and secondary outcomes include net adverse clinical events (NACEs), cardiac death, all-cause death, ischemic stroke, stent thrombosis, total bleeding, and major bleeding. A network meta-analysis was conducted with a random-effects model. Data extraction was performed by three independent reviewers.

Results

Our search identified ten eligible randomized controlled trials enrolling a total of 82,084 patients comparing different chronic maintenance antithrombotic strategies. As for the primary endpoint, there was no statistical difference in MACE outcomes between any two of the five methods. As for the secondary endpoint, there was no statistical difference in NACE, major bleeding, all-cause death, cardiac death, and stent thrombosis between any two methods. The aspirin plus low-dose rivaroxaban group had a lower incidence of ischemic stroke compared to the aspirin group (OR = 0.49, 95% CrI 0.26-0.91). And the prolonged DAPT group had a higher total bleeding rate compared to aspirin group (OR = 2.4, 95% CrI 1.1-5.9).

Conclusions

In terms of MACE, NACE, all-cause death, cardiac death, stent thrombosis, and major bleeding, there were no significant differences between using aspirin alone, clopidogrel alone, and ticagrelor alone; extending DAPT duration; and using aspirin combined with low-dose rivaroxaban for chronic maintenance antithrombotic regimens. However, choosing aspirin combined with low-dose rivaroxaban can reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke, and prolonged DAPT may have a higher rate of total bleeding. However, it is important to note that this study is based on indirect comparisons, and there is currently a lack of direct evidence comparing various maintenance antiplatelet therapy regimens. Further high-quality studies are needed to address this gap and provide more conclusive evidence on the comparative effectiveness of different maintenance antiplatelet strategies.

Combined effect of D-dimer, hs-CRP, and Lp(a) on 5-year clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention: A large real-world study in China

To reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with established coronary heart disease, the present study investigated the combined effect of D-dimer, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] on long-term cardiovascular outcomes from the perspectives of thrombosis, inflammation, and lipid risk simultaneously. Consecutive 10,724 patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled throughout 2013. Over a median follow-up of 5.1 years, each individual elevation of D-dimer, hs-CRP, and Lp(a) was associated with poor ischemic outcomes but not bleeding. Concurrent high D-dimer, hs-CRP, and Lp(a) had even greater risks of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 2.714, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.742-4.231) and cardiac death (HR 4.152, 95% CI 2.207-7.812) and had incremental value beyond the traditional risk factors model. Concurrent high D-dimer, hs-CRP, and Lp(a) levels had a synergistic effect on adverse 5-year ischemic outcomes, highlighting that the potential utility of simultaneous assessment of multiple cardiovascular risk biomarkers may help to identify high-risk patients after PCI.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Concise Review for Clinicians

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) combines two antiplatelet agents to decrease the risk of thrombotic complications associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Emerging data about the duration of DAPT is being published continuously. New approaches are trying to balance the time, benefits, and risks for patients taking DAPT for established cardiovascular diseases. Short-term dual DAPT of 3-6 months, or even 1 month in high-bleeding risk patients, is equivalent in terms of efficacy and effectiveness compared to long-term DAPT for patients who experienced percutaneous coronary intervention in an acute coronary syndrome setting. Prolonged DAPT beyond 12 months reduces stent thrombosis, major adverse cardiovascular events, and myocardial infarction rates but increases bleeding risk. Extended DAPT does not significantly benefit stable coronary artery disease patients in reducing stroke, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular death. Ticagrelor and aspirin reduce cardiovascular events in stable coronary artery disease with diabetes but carry a higher bleeding risk. Antiplatelet therapy duration in atrial fibrillation patients after percutaneous coronary intervention depends on individual characteristics and bleeding risk. Antiplatelet therapy is crucial for post-coronary artery bypass graft and transcatheter aortic valve implantation; Aspirin (ASA) monotherapy is preferred. Antiplatelet therapy duration in peripheral artery disease depends on the scenario. Adding vorapaxar and cilostazol may benefit secondary prevention and claudication, respectively. Carotid artery disease patients with transient ischemic attack or stroke benefit from antiplatelet therapy and combining ASA and clopidogrel is more effective than ASA alone. The optimal duration of DAPT after carotid artery stenting is uncertain. Resistance to ASA and clopidogrel poses an incremental risk of deleterious cardiovascular events and stroke. The selection and duration of antiplatelet therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease requires careful consideration of both efficacy and safety outcomes. The use of combination therapies may provide added benefits but should be weighed against the risk of bleeding. Further research and clinical trials are needed to optimize antiplatelet treatment in different patient populations and clinical scenarios.

Performance of DAPT Score and ESC Criteria for Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Chinese Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Purpose

The values of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) score in the stratification of ischemic risk were assessed in this study.

Methods

A total of 489 patients with acute coronary syndrome who received DAPT at discharge between June 2020 and August 2020 were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which included recurrent ACS or unplanned revascularization, all-cause death, or ischemic stroke during a 27-month follow-up period.

Results

Patients with ESC-defined high-risk showed a significantly higher risk of MACE (HR 2.75, 95% CI 1.78-4.25), all-cause death (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.14-5.43), and recurrent ACS or unplanned revascularization (HR 2.80, 95% CI 1.57-4.99) than those with ESC-defined low/medium-risk during follow-up. The results of landmark analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group had a significantly higher risk of MACE (HR 2.80,95 CI% 1.57-4.97), recurrent ACS or unplanned revascularization (HR 3.19,95 CI% 1.47-6.93) within one year, and a higher risk of MACE (HR 2.69,95 CI% 1.38-5.23) after one year. There was no significant difference in the incidence of MACE between patients with a DAPT score ≥2 and a DAPT score <2. The C-indices of ESC criteria and DAPT score for prediction of MACE were 0.63 (95% CI 0.57-0.70) and 0.54 (95% CI 0.48-0.61), respectively. The predictive value of ESC criteria for MACE was better than the DAPT score according to the DeLong test (z-statistic=2.30, P=0.020).

Conclusion

Patients with ESC-defined high-risk had a higher risk of MACE compared to those with ESC-defined low/medium-risk. The discriminant ability of the ESC criteria was better than the DAPT score for MACE. The ESC criteria demonstrated moderate discriminatory capacity of MACE in ACS patients treated with DAPT.

Exploring new insights in coronary lesion assessment and treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus: the impact of optical coherence tomography

In this review, we summarise new insights into diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the improvements in therapy, the clinical management of DM patients remains challenging as they develop more extensive CAD at a younger age and consistently have worse clinical outcomes than non-DM patients. Current diagnostic modalities as well as revascularisation treatments mainly focus on ischemic lesions. However, the impact of plaque morphology and composition are emerging as strong predictors of adverse cardiac events even in the absence of identified ischemia. In particular, the presence of vulnerable plaques such as thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) lesions has been identified as a very strong predictor of future adverse events. This emphasises the need for an approach combining both functional and morphological methods in the assessment of lesions. In particular, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has proven to be a valuable asset by truly identifying TCFAs. New treatment strategies should consist of individualised and advanced medical regimens and may evolve towards plaque sealing through percutaneous treatment.

What Is the Optimal Duration of Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Optimal duration of antiplatelet therapy continues to attract extensive debates and has been progressively adjusted in the setting of advancements in stent design and assessment of patient clinical characteristics. Given the ever-changing landscape of antiplatelet therapy and the multitude of clinical trials that have examined this duration, there are varying scenarios for optimal duration based on patient presentation and risk profile. This review highlights the current concepts and recommendations regarding duration of antiplatelet therapy in coronary heart disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

In particular, we review the current data on the use of dual antiplatelet therapy in the different clinical scenarios. Relatively longer dual antiplatelet therapy is perhaps limited to patients with higher risk for cardiovascular events and/or high-risk lesions and shorter durations of dual antiplatelet therapy have been shown to reduce bleeding complications at the same time as stabilization of ischemic endpoints. More recent trials have demonstrated the safety of shorter durations of dual antiplatelet therapy in appropriate patients with coronary heart disease.

Boosting protection for patients with non-acute cardiovascular disease: a focus on antithrombotic regimen (a consensus expert opinion from the Egyptian Society of Cardiology working group of thrombosis and prevention)

BACKGROUND

Till the moment of this document writing, no Egyptian consensus is there to guide selection of additional antithrombotic in stable patients with established CVD. Despite use of lifestyle measures and statins, those patients with established CVD still face a considerable burden of residual risk.

MAIN BODY

With the evolvement of evidence-based medicine, there have been a lot of recommendations to use additional antithrombotic medications to maximize protection for those patients. Accordingly, the Egyptian Society of Cardiology working group of thrombosis and prevention took the responsibility of providing an expert consensus on the current recommendations for using antithrombotic medications to maximize protection in stable patients with established CVD. For stable patients with established CVD, in addition to proper lifestyle measures and appropriate dose statins, we recommend long-term aspirin therapy. In patients who are unable to take aspirin and in those with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, clopidogrel is a reasonable alternative.

CONCLUSIONS

For some stable atherosclerotic CVD patients who are at high risk of cardiovascular events and at low risk for bleeding, a regimen of rivaroxaban and aspirin might be taken into consideration.

Revascularization and Medical Therapy for Chronic Coronary Syndromes: Lessons Learnt from Recent Trials, a Literature Review

Stable coronary artery disease (CAD) has recently been replaced by a new entity described as chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). This new entity has been developed based on a better understanding of the pathogenesis, the clinical characteristics, and the morbi-mortality associated to this condition as part of the dynamic spectrum of CAD. This has significant implications in the clinical management of CCS patients, that ranges from lifestyle adaptation, medical therapy targeting all the elements contributing to CAD progression (i.e., platelet aggregation, coagulation, dyslipidaemia, and systemic inflammation), to invasive strategies (i.e., revascularization). CCS is the most frequent presentation of coronary artery disease which is the first cardiovascular disease worldwide. Medical therapy is the first line therapy for these patients; however, revascularization and especially percutaneous coronary intervention remains beneficial for some of them. European and American guidelines on myocardial revascularization were released in 2018 and 2021, respectively. These guidelines provide different scenarios to help physicians choose the optimal therapy for CCS patients. Recently, several trials focusing on CCS patients have been published. We sought to synthetize the place of revascularization in CCS patients according to the latest guidelines, the lessons learnt from recent trials on revascularization and medical therapy, and future perspectives.

Influence of body weight and body mass index on the chronic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to clinically available doses of ticagrelor in patients with chronic coronary syndromes

Ticagrelor has multiple indications, including for some patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) at high risk of ischaemic events. Body mass can potentially affect pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacokinetics (PK). We investigated the influence of body mass (range 53-172 kg, 20.8-46.9 kg/m²) on PD/PK in 221 CCS patients receiving ticagrelor 60 mg or 90 mg twice-daily (BD) during two randomised-controlled trials. Correlations between body weight (BW) or body mass index (BMI) and PD/PK measurements obtained during maintenance treatment at trough ('pre-dose') and peak effect ('post-dose') were assessed. BW and BMI correlated with P2Y₁₂ reactivity units at pre-dose (e.g. BW:R = 0.26, p = 0.008) but not post-dose timepoints. BW affected ticagrelor active metabolite (TAM) levels (e.g. 60 mg BD, post-dose:R = -0.39, p < 0.0001) and there was evidence of an inverse power law relationship between BW and TAM-to-ticagrelor ratio. PK with ticagrelor 60 mg correlated significantly with BMI. BW and BMI did not affect the chance of high platelet reactivity, which remained very low across the whole cohort. There was no difference in PRU between the two doses of ticagrelor within each weight or BMI group. Body mass has modest effects on the PK/PD response to ticagrelor in patients with CCS but currently-used regimens appear adequate across the range of BW/BMI studied.

10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

External applicability of the Effect of ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in diabEtes Mellitus patients Intervention Study (THEMIS) trial: An analysis of patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease in the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry

AIMS

THEMIS is a double-blind, randomized trial of 19,220 patients with diabetes mellitus and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) comparing ticagrelor to placebo, in addition to aspirin. The present study aimed to describe the proportion of patients eligible and reasons for ineligibility for THEMIS within a population of patients with diabetes and CAD included in the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The THEMIS eligibility criteria were applied to REACH patients. THEMIS included patients ≥50 years with type 2 diabetes and stable CAD as determined by either a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, or documentation of angiographic stenosis of ≥50% of at least one coronary artery. Patients with prior myocardial infarction or stroke were excluded. In REACH, 10,156 patients had stable CAD and diabetes. Of these, 6515 (64.1%) patients had at least one exclusion criteria. From the remaining population, 784 patients did not meet inclusion criteria (7.7%) mainly due to absence of aspirin treatment (7.2%), yielding a 'THEMIS-eligible population' of 2857 patients (28.1% of patients with diabetes and stable CAD). The main reasons for exclusion were a history of myocardial infarction (53.1%), use of oral anticoagulation (14.5%), or history of stroke (12.9%). Among the 4208 patients with diabetes and a previous PCI, 1196 patients (28.4%) were eligible for inclusion in the THEMIS-PCI substudy.

CONCLUSIONS

In a population of patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease, a sizeable proportion appear to be 'THEMIS eligible.'

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov identifier: NCT01991795.

Patient selection for long-term secondary prevention with ticagrelor: insights from PEGASUS-TIMI 54

AIM

In patients with prior myocardial infarction (MI) on aspirin, the addition of ticagrelor reduces ischaemic risk but increases bleeding risk. The simultaneous assessment of baseline ischaemic and bleeding risk may assist clinicians in selecting patients who are most likely to have a favourable risk/benefit profile with long-term ticagrelor.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PEGASUS-TIMI 54 randomized 21 162 prior MI patients, 13 956 of which to the approved 60 mg dose or placebo and who had all necessary data. The primary efficacy endpoint was cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke, and the primary safety outcome was TIMI major bleeding; differences in Kaplan-Meier event rates at 3 years are presented. Post-hoc subgroups based on predictors of bleeding and ischaemic risk were merged into a selection algorithm. Patients were divided into four groups: those with a bleeding predictor (n = 2721, 19%) and then those without a bleeding predictor and either 0-1 ischaemic risk factor (IRF; n = 3004, 22%), 2 IRF (n = 4903, 35%), or ≥3 IRF (n = 3328, 24%). In patients at high bleeding risk, ticagrelor increased bleeding [absolute risk difference (ARD) +2.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6, 3.9] and did not reduce the primary efficacy endpoint (ARD +0.08%, 95% CI -2.4 to 2.5). In patients at low bleeding risk, the ARDs in the primary efficacy endpoint with ticagrelor were -0.5% (-2.2, 1.3), -1.5% (-3.1, 0.02), and -2.6% (-5.0, -0.24, P = 0.03) in those with ≤1, 2, and 3 risk factors, respectively (P = 0.076 for trend across groups). There were significant trends for greater absolute risk reductions for cardiovascular death (P-trend 0.018), all-cause mortality (P-trend 0.027), and net outcomes (P-trend 0.037) with ticagrelor across these risk groups.

CONCLUSION

In a post-hoc exploratory analysis of patients with prior MI, long-term ticagrelor therapy appears to be best suited for those with prior MI with multiple IRFs at low bleeding risk.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01225562 ClinicalTrials.gov.

Antiplatelet Therapy Aims and Strategies in Asian Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome or Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has been the mainstay treatment to reduce ischemic events, such as myocardial infarction or stroke, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The development of potent P2Y₁₂ inhibitors (ticagrelor and prasugrel) has helped to further reduce ischemic events, particularly among high-risk patients. Meanwhile, the evolution of newer generations of drug-eluting stents are also improving outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention. Research studies on antiplatelet therapy in recent years have focused on balancing ischemic and bleeding risks through different strategies, which include P2Y₁₂ inhibitor monotherapy, escalation and de-escalation, and extended DAPT. Because results from the large number of clinical studies may sometimes appear conflicting, this review aims to summarize recent advances, and demonstrate that they are aligned by a general principle, namely, strategies may be adopted based on treatment aims for specific patients at several time points. Another aim of this review is to outline the important considerations for using antiplatelet therapy in Asian patients, in whom there is a greater prevalence of CYP2C19 loss-of-function mutations, and a common increased risk of bleeding, despite high platelet reactivity (the so-called "East Asian Paradox").

P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

For 20 years, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), consisting of the combination of aspirin and a platelet P2Y₁₂ receptor inhibitor, has been the gold standard of antithrombotic pharmacology after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the past 5 years, several investigations have challenged this paradigm by testing the efficacy and safety of P2Y₁₂ inhibitor monotherapy (that is, without aspirin) following a short course of DAPT. Collectively, these studies suggested a reduction in the risk of major bleeding and no significant increase in thrombotic or ischaemic events compared with guideline-recommended DAPT. Current recommendations are evolving to inform clinical practice on the ideal candidates for P2Y₁₂ inhibitor monotherapy after PCI. Generalizing the results of studies of P2Y₁₂ inhibitor monotherapy requires a thorough understanding of their design, populations, interventions, comparators and results. In this Review, we provide an up-to-date overview on the use of P2Y₁₂ inhibitor monotherapy after PCI, including supporting pharmacodynamic and clinical evidence, practical recommendations and future directions.

New opportunities of antithrombotic therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and stable coronary heart disease for reducing the cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular complications: THEMIS, THEMIS-PCI trials

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary heart disease belong to a group with a very high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In patients with coronary atherosclerosis, DM increases the risk of ischemic events by 24 times. Apparently, increased antithrombotic therapy has an advantage in patients with DM who have had myocardial infarction. However, until recently it was not clear there is such an advantage in patients with DM and stable coronary artery disease without prior myocardial infarction. The addition of ticagrelol to monotherapy of acetylsalicylic acid reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 DM and stable coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, if patients have a high risk of ischemic events.

Endothelial biomarkers and platelet reactivity on ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients after acute coronary syndrome with and without concomitant type 2 diabetes: a preliminary observational study

BACKGROUND

Pleiotropic effects have been implicated in clinical benefits of ticagrelor compared to thienopyridine P2Y₁₂ antagonists. There are conflicting data regarding effects of ticagrelor vs. thienopyridine P2Y₁₂ blockers on endothelial function. Our aim was to compare endothelial biomarkers and their relations with platelet reactivity in real-world patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on maintenance dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor or clopidogrel stratified by diabetes status.

METHODS

Biochemical indices of endothelial dysfunction/activation and platelet reactivity by multiple electrode aggregometry were compared in 126 stable post-ACS subjects (mean age: 65 ± 10 years, 92 men and 34 women), including patients with (n = 61) or without (n = 65) coexistent type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on uneventful maintenance DAPT with either ticagrelor (90 mg b.d.) or clopidogrel (75 mg o.d.) in addition to low-dose aspirin. Exclusion criteria included a complicated in-hospital course, symptomatic heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% and relevant coexistent diseases except for well-controlled diabetes, mild renal insufficiency or hypertension.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics were similar in patients on ticagrelor (n = 62) and clopidogrel (n = 64). The adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation and circulating soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) were decreased in ticagrelor users irrespective of T2DM status (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 for platelet reactivity and sP-selectin, respectively). Plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were lower in T2DM subjects on ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel (758 ± 162 vs. 913 ± 217 µg/L, p < 0.01). In contrast, plasma sVCAM-1 was similar in non-diabetic patients on ticagrelor and clopidogrel (872 ± 203 vs. 821 ± 210 µg/L, p > 0.7). The concentrations of sE-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and asymmetric dimethylarginine did not differ according to the type of P2Y₁₂ antagonist regardless of T2DM status. Platelet reactivity was unrelated to any endothelial biomarker in subjects with or without T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary findings may suggest an association of ticagrelor-based maintenance DAPT with favorable endothelial effects compared to clopidogrel users in stable post-ACS patients with T2DM. If proven, this could contribute to more pronounced clinical benefits of ticagrelor in diabetic subjects.

Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in East Asian Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

It is still unknown whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the relative safety and efficacy of ticagrelor vs clopidogrel in East Asian patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to assess the safety and efficacy of ticagrelor vs clopidogrel according to the diabetic status of East Asian patients with ACS undergoing invasive management.

METHODS

This prespecified analysis of the TICA KOREA (Clinically Significant Bleeding With Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Korean Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Intended for Invasive Management) trial included 800 Korean patients. The primary safety endpoint was clinically significant bleeding (PLATO [Platelet Inhibition and Clinical Outcomes] major or minor bleeding) at 12 months; the efficacy endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke).

RESULTS

Of 800 patients, 216 (27.0%) had DM. The incidence of clinically significant bleeding within 12 months was significantly higher with ticagrelor than clopidogrel in the nondiabetic group (10.2% vs 4.3%; HR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.27-4.70; P = 0.007) and tended to be higher in the diabetic group (13.8% vs 8.0%; HR: 1.87; 95% CI: 0.54-4.36; P = 0.15); there was no significant interaction between treatment-arm and DM (P for interaction = 0.64). The incidences of major adverse cardiovascular events were not significantly different after ticagrelor or clopidogrel both in the diabetic group (10.8% vs 6.0%; HR: 1.90; 95% CI: 0.71-5.07; P = 0.20) and in the nondiabetic group (8.5% vs 5.7%; HR: 1.51; 95% CI: 0.81-2.81; P = 0.19) without significant interaction (P-for-interaction = 0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

In Korean ACS patients undergoing early invasive management, diabetes status did not affect the relative safety and efficacy of ticagrelor and clopidogrel. (Safety and Efficacy of Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Asian/Korean Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Intended for Invasive Management [TICA KOREA]; NCT02094963).

The therapeutic effect and targets of cellulose polysaccharide on coronary heart disease (CHD) and the construction of a prognostic signature based on network pharmacology

Cellulose is the first rich biological polysaccharide in nature and has many excellent properties, so it is being developed as a variety of drug carriers. Moreover, applications in drug delivery, biosensors/bioanalysis, immobilization of enzymes and cells, stem cell therapy, and skin tissue repair are also highlighted by many studies. Coronary heart disease, as one of the diseases with the highest incidence, is urgent to enhance the survival outcome and life quality of patients with coronary heart disease, whereas the mechanism of cellulose's interaction with the human body remains unclear. However, the mechanism of cellulose's interaction with the human body remains unclear. We obtained 92 genes associated with cellulose and coronary heart disease through the intersection of different databases. Ten key genes were identified: HRAS, STAT3, HSP90AA1, FGF2, VEGFA, CXCR4, TERT, IL2, BCL2L1, and CDK1. Molecular docking of the 10 genes revealed their association with their respective receptors. Analysis by KEGG and GO has discovered that these related targets were more enriched in metabolic- and activation-related functions, which further confirmed that cellulose polysaccharides can also interact with cardiovascular diseases as molecules. In the end, we screened out six key genes that were more associated with the prognosis (CDK1, HSP90AA1, CXCR4, IL2, VEGFA, and TERT) and constructed a signature, which has a good predictive effect and has significant statistical significance. Our study is the first study to explore the interaction targets of cellulose and CHD and to construct a prognostic model. Our findings provide insights for future molecular design, drug development, and clinical trials.

Managing thrombotic risk in patients with diabetes

It is well known that diabetes is a prominent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. The level of CV risk depends on the type and duration of diabetes, age and additional co-morbidities. Diabetes is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and is frequently observed in patients with AF, which further increases their risk of stroke associated with this cardiac arrhythmia. Nearly one third of patients with diabetes globally have CV disease (CVD). Additionally, co-morbid AF and coronary artery disease are more frequently observed in patients with diabetes than the general population, further increasing the already high CV risk of these patients. To protect against thromboembolic events in patients with diabetes and AF or established CVD, guidelines recommend optimal CV risk factor control, including oral anticoagulation treatment. However, patients with diabetes exist in a prothrombotic and inflammatory state. Greater clinical benefit may therefore be seen with the use of stronger antithrombotic agents or innovative drug combinations in high-risk patients with diabetes, such as those who have concomitant AF or established CVD. In this review, we discuss CV risk management strategies in patients with diabetes and concomitant vascular disease, stroke prevention regimens in patients with diabetes and AF and how worsening renal function in these patients may complicate these approaches. Accumulating evidence from clinical trials and real-world evidence show a benefit to the administration of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in patients with diabetes and AF.

Comparison of Unguided De-Escalation Versus Guided Selection of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for reducing ischemic events is greatest in the early period of acute coronary syndrome, and recent randomized controlled trials have investigated the unguided de-escalation strategy of changing potent P2Y₁₂ inhibitors to less potent or reduced-dose P2Y₁₂ inhibitors 1 month after acute coronary syndrome. However, it remains unclear which strategy is more effective and safer: the uniform unguided de-escalation strategy versus the personalized guided selection of DAPT with genotype or platelet function tests.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central were searched for articles published from database inception to September 10, 2021. Randomized controlled trials investigating DAPT using clopidogrel, low-dose prasugrel, standard-dose prasugrel, ticagrelor, unguided de-escalation strategy, and guided selection strategy for patients with acute coronary syndrome were included. Hazard ratios and relative risk estimates were extracted from each study. The estimates were pooled using a random-effects network meta-analysis. The primary efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The primary safety outcome was major or minor bleeding. Secondary outcomes were all-cause death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, stent thrombosis, and major bleeding.

RESULTS

This study included 19 randomized controlled trials with 69 746 patients. Compared with guided selection of DAPT, unguided de-escalation of DAPT was associated with a decreased risk of the primary safety outcome (hazard ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.33-0.72]) without increased risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.53-1.28]) or any secondary outcomes. The results were similar when the guided selection strategy was divided into platelet function-guided and genotype-guided strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with guided selection of DAPT, unguided de-escalation of DAPT decreased bleeding without increasing ischemic events in patients after acute coronary syndrome. If a strategy of de-escalation is chosen, these findings do not support the routine use of personalized guiding tests.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42021273082.

Balance of benefit and risk of ticagrelor in patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease according to bleeding risk assessment with the CRUSADE score: Data from THEMIS and THEMIS PCI

BACKGROUND

The THEMIS trial demonstrated that in high-risk patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes without previous myocardial infarction or stroke, ticagrelor, in addition to aspirin, reduced the incidence of ischemic events but increased major bleeding. Identification of patients who could derive the greatest net benefit from the addition of ticagrelor appears important. We used the CRUSADE bleeding risk score to risk stratify the THEMIS population.

METHODS

The population was divided into tertiles: score ≤22, 23 to 33, and ≥34. In each tertile, primary efficacy (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) and safety (TIMI major bleeding) outcomes were analyzed. NACE (net adverse clinical events) was defined as the irreversible harm composite, in which all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, amputations, fatal bleeds, and intracranial hemorrhage were counted.

RESULTS

Patients in the lower risk tertile experienced fewer ischemic events with ticagrelor than placebo, whereas there was no significant benefit from ticagrelor in the other tertiles (P_interaction = .008). Bleeding rates were consistently increased with ticagrelor across all tertiles (P_interaction = .79). Ticagrelor reduced NACE in the first tertile (HR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.61-0.90) but not in the others (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.86-1.23 and HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.91-1.22, respectively; P_interaction = .012).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes without a history of myocardial infarction or stroke, only those at the lower end of the bleeding risk spectrum according to the CRUSADE score derived net benefit from ticagrelor.

Small molecules as modulators of regulated cell death against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury contributes to disability and mortality worldwide. Due to the complicated mechanisms and lack of proper therapeutic targets, few interventions are available that specifically target the pathogenesis of IR injury. Regulated cell death (RCD) of endothelial and parenchymal cells is recognized as the promising intervening target. Recent advances in IR injury suggest that small molecules exhibit beneficial effects on various RCD against IR injury, including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and parthanatos. Here, we describe the mechanisms behind these novel promising therapeutic targets and explain the machinery powering the small molecules. These small molecules exert protection by targeting endothelial or parenchymal cells to alleviate IR injury. Therapies of the ideal combination of small molecules targeting multiple cell types have shown potent synergetic therapeutic effects, laying the foundation for novel strategies to attenuate IR injury.

Multi-Omics Signatures Link to Ticagrelor Effects on Vascular Function in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Long-term antiplatelet agents including the potent P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor are indicated in patients with a previous history of acute coronary syndrome. We sought to compare the effect of ticagrelor with that of aspirin monotherapy on vascular endothelial function in patients with prior acute coronary syndrome.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single center, parallel group, investigator-blinded randomized controlled trial. We randomized 200 patients on long-term aspirin monotherapy with prior acute coronary syndrome in a 1:1 fashion to receive ticagrelor 60 mg BD (n=100) or aspirin 100 mg OD (n=100). The primary end point was change from baseline in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation at 12 weeks. Secondary end points were changes to platelet activation marker (CD41_62p) and endothelial progenitor cell (CD34/133) count measured by flow cytometry, plasma level of adenosine, IL-6 (interleukin-6) and EGF (epidermal growth factor), and multi-omics profiling at 12 weeks.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, brachial flow-mediated dilation was significantly increased in the ticagrelor group compared with the aspirin group (ticagrelor: 3.48±3.48% versus aspirin: -1.26±2.85%, treatment effect 4.73 [95% CI, 3.85-5.62], P<0.001). Nevertheless ticagrelor treatment for 12 weeks had no significant effect on platelet activation markers, circulating endothelial progenitor cell count or plasma level of adenosine, IL-6, and EGF (all P>0.05). Multi-omics pathway assessment revealed that changes in the metabolism and biosynthesis of amino acids (cysteine and methionine metabolism; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis) and phospholipids (glycerophosphoethanolamines and glycerophosphoserines) were associated with improved brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in the ticagrelor group.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with prior acute coronary syndrome, ticagrelor 60 mg BD monotherapy significantly improved brachial flow-mediated dilation compared with aspirin monotherapy and was associated with significant changes in metabolomic and lipidomic signatures.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov; Unique identifier: NCT03881943.

How Do Lipoprotein(a) Concentrations Affect Clinical Outcomes for Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease Who Underwent Different Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

Background

Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]) plays an important role in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease through its proatherogenic and prothrombotic effects. We hypothesized that prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) might be beneficial for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention who had elevated Lp(a) levels. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lp(a) on the efficacy and safety of prolonged DAPT versus shortened DAPT in stable patients with coronary artery disease who were treated with a drug‐eluting stent.

Methods and Results

We selected 3201 stable patients with CAD from the prospective Fuwai Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry, of which 2124 patients had Lp(a) ≤30 mg/dL, and 1077 patients had Lp(a) >30 mg/dL. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to Lp(a) levels and the duration of DAPT therapy (≤1 year versus >1 year). The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event, defined as a composite of all‐cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The median follow‐up time was 2.5 years. Among patients with elevated Lp(a) levels, DAPT >1 year presented lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event and definite/probable stent thrombosis compared with DAPT ≤1 year. In contrast, in patients with normal Lp(a) levels, the risks of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event and definite/probable stent thrombosis were not significantly different between the DAPT >1 year and DAPT ≤1 year groups. Prolonged DAPT had 2.4‐times higher risk of clinically relevant bleeding than shortened DAPT in patients with normal Lp(a) levels, although without statistical difference.

Conclusions

In stable patients with coronary artery disease, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug‐eluting stent, prolonged DAPT was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular events among those with elevated Lp(a) levels, whereas it did not show statistically significant evidence of benefit for reducing ischemic events and tended to increase clinically relevant bleeding among those with normal Lp(a) levels.

Cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease: a European economic evaluation of the THEMIS trial

AIMS

To conduct a health economic evaluation of ticagrelor in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) from a multinational payer perspective. Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of ticagrelor were evaluated in the overall effect of Ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in Diabetes Mellitus Patients Intervention Study (THEMIS) trial population and in the predefined patient group with prior percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A Markov model was developed to extrapolate patient outcomes over a lifetime horizon. The primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), which were compared with conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds [€47 000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) in Sweden and €30 000/QALY in other countries].Treatment with ticagrelor resulted in QALY gains of up to 0.045 in the overall population and 0.099 in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Increased costs and benefits translated to ICERs ranged between €27 894 and €42 252/QALY across Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the overall population. In patients with prior PCI, estimated ICERs improved to €18 449, €20 632, €20 233, and €13 228/QALY in Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Spain, respectively, driven by higher event rates and treatment benefit.

CONCLUSION

Based on THEMIS results, ticagrelor plus aspirin compared with aspirin alone may be cost-effective in some European countries in patients with T2DM and CAD and no prior myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke. Additionally, ticagrelor is likely to be cost-effective across European countries in patients with a history of PCI.

2022 Prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in Of the Russian Federation. National guidelines

.

Impact of Ticagrelor vs. Clopidogrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After Risk Stratification With the CHA2DS2-VASc Score

Backgrounds

The clinical benefit of ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel in unselected patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial in the real world. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel in subjects with ACS without atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) after PCI based on risk stratification using the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.

Methods

In 2016–2019, patients who underwent PCI with at least one stent implanted in the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were classified as low- or high-risk groups according to the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score. Incidences of 12-month ischemia [cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke], all-cause death, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 2,3,5 bleeding, BARC 3,5 bleeding, and net adverse clinical events (NACEs) (all-cause death, MI, stroke, or BARC 3, 5 bleeding) with aspirin plus different P2Y₁₂ inhibitors (clopidogrel or ticagrelor) were appraised among different risk groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) and Cox multivariate analysis were used to balance the groups.

Results

A total of consecutive 17,037 patients with ACS were enrolled. The optimal cut-off value of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for ischemic events by the Youden test was 3 points. Among patients with high risk (CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥ 3, n = 6,151), ticagrelor was associated with slightly lower risks of ischemic events (2.29% vs. 3.54%, P = 0.02) and stroke (0.39% vs. 1.08%, P = 0.01) without excessive risk of BARC 3, 5 bleeding events (2.16% vs. 2.11%, P = 0.92) compared to clopidogrel within 12 months after PCI. For patients with low risk (CHA₂DS₂-VASc < 3, n = 10,886), a statistically significant difference was seen in the incidence of overall 12-month BARC 2, 3, 5 bleeding events by P2Y₁₂ receptor inhibitor (4.00% vs. 3.26%) with a similar incidence of the ischemic events (1.40% vs. 1.52%). Results in the PSM cohort and the adjustment with Cox multivariate analysis were consistent with the main outcomes.

Conclusion

Higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were associated with a higher incidence of 1-year ischemic events for the patients with ACS after PCI. Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor was associated with lower ischemic events within 12 months after PCI without excessive risk of bleeding in high-risk patients but shows poor safety with excess bleeding in low-risk patients.

Challenges of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy use following acute coronary syndromes

An acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event is associated with a high risk of recurrent ACS, stroke, and death. To ameliorate the risk of subsequent events, current guidelines for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation ACS recommend long-term management strategies for secondary prevention including risk factor modification and anti-ischemic and antiplatelet therapies. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), comprising aspirin plus a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor, is a critical component of secondary prevention therapy following ACS. However, despite the importance of DAPT for secondary prevention after ACS, questions remain over the optimal duration of therapy. Clinical evidence is emerging that maintenance DAPT >12 months lowers the risk of recurrent ACS events; however, this benefit must be considered against any potential risks of prolonged DAPT such as bleeding. Several tools for bleeding risk assessment have shown promise; however, their limited accuracy and discriminative power necessitates further development. Assessment of patient ischemic risk should consider the complexity of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure, anatomic burden of coronary artery disease, and additional underlying risk factors. Consequently, identifying patients in whom the risk:benefit ratio favors prolonged DAPT may prove invaluable for clinicians in deciding which patients should continue or stop taking DAPT at 12 months after PCI, or consider P2Y₁₂ inhibitor monotherapy as an option. This article reviews the most recent information about the risks and benefits of DAPT continued for >12 months after ACS and provides critical guidance to assist physicians in identifying patients most likely to benefit from a secondary prevention strategy with DAPT.

Antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention

Antiplatelet therapy is key to reducing local thrombotic complications and systemic ischaemic events among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), but it is inevitably associated with increased bleeding. The continuous refinement in stent technologies, together with the high incidence of ischaemic recurrences after PCI and the understanding of prognostic implications associated with bleeding, have led to a substantial evolution in antiplatelet treatment regimens over the past decades. Numerous investigations have been conducted to better stratify patients undergoing PCI according to their ischaemic and bleeding risks and to implement antithrombotic regimens accordingly. Evidence from these investigations have resulted in a number of antithrombotic treatment options as recommended by recent guidelines. In this State-of-the-Art review we provide the rationale, summarise the evidence, and discuss current and future directions of antiplatelet treatment regimens after PCI.

In Stent Neo-Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology, Clinical Implications, Prevention, and Therapeutic Approaches

Despite the dramatic improvements of revascularization therapies occurring in the past decades, a relevant percentage of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) still develops stent failure due to neo-atherosclerosis (NA). This histopathological phenomenon following stent implantation represents the substrate for late in-stent restenosis (ISR) and late stent thrombosis (ST), with a significant impact on patient’s long-term clinical outcomes. This appears even more remarkable in the setting of drug-eluting stent implantation, where the substantial delay in vascular healing because of the released anti-proliferative agents might increase the occurrence of this complication. Since the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of NA diverge from native atherosclerosis and early ISR, intra-coronary imaging techniques are crucial for its early detection, providing a proper in vivo assessment of both neo-intimal plaque composition and peri-strut structures. Furthermore, different strategies for NA prevention and treatment have been proposed, including tailored pharmacological therapies as well as specific invasive tools. Considering the increasing population undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES), this review aims to provide an updated overview of the most recent evidence regarding NA, discussing pathophysiology, contemporary intravascular imaging techniques, and well-established and experimental invasive and pharmacological treatment strategies.

Bentracimab for Ticagrelor Reversal in Patients Undergoing Urgent Surgery

BACKGROUND: Ticagrelor is a reversible oral P2Y12 platelet inhibitor used to treat patients with acute coronary syndromes, prior myocardial infarction, high-risk coronary artery disease, transient ischemic attack, or ischemic stroke. A healthy volunteer study showed that the intravenous monoclonal antibody bentracimab rapidly reverses ticagrelor, but the effect in patients was unknown. METHODS: In a prespecified interim analysis of a single-arm, prospective study, bentracimab was evaluated in ticagrelor-treated patients who required urgent surgery or had major hemorrhage. The extent of reversal was determined using the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. Clinical hemostasis was assessed by central adjudication using validated criteria. Treatment-emergent safety events were evaluated. The trial is ongoing and will enroll approximately 200 patients with evaluable data. RESULTS: Of 150 enrolled patients, 142 required urgent surgery and 8 had major hemorrhage. For the end-point analysis, 129 patients had analyzable platelet data; 122 had data on adjudicated hemostasis. Bentracimab provided a rapid reversal of ticagrelor’s antiplatelet effects within 5 to 10 minutes. The reversal was sustained for more than 24 hours, as measured with the VerifyNow P2Y12 and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation assays (P<0.001, with both assays and in all subgroups). Adjudicated hemostasis was achieved for more than 90% of patients (P<0.001); approximately 5% of patients had thrombotic events. No allergic or infusion-related reactions were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Bentracimab provided immediate and sustained reversal of the antiplatelet effects of ticagrelor in patients undergoing surgical procedures. (Funded by PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04286438.)

Assessment of medical management in Coronary Type 2 Diabetic patients with previous percutaneous coronary intervention in Spain: A retrospective analysis of electronic health records using Natural Language Processing

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) previously revascularized with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at high risk of recurrent ischemic events. We aimed to provide real-world insights into the clinical characteristics and management of this clinical population, excluding patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, using Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, retrospective study based on the secondary use of 2014-2018 real-world data captured in the Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of 1,579 patients (0.72% of the T2D population analyzed; n = 217,632 patients) from 12 representative hospitals in Spain. To access the unstructured clinical information in EHRs, we used the EHRead® technology, based on NLP and machine learning. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were considered: MI, ischemic stroke, urgent coronary revascularization, and hospitalization due to unstable angina. The association between MACE rates and the variables included in this study was evaluated following univariate and multivariate approaches.

RESULTS

Most patients were male (72.13%), with a mean age of 70.5±10 years. Regarding T2D, most patients were non-insulin-dependent T2D (61.75%) with high prevalence of comorbidities. The median (Q1-Q3) duration of follow-up was 1.2 (0.3-4.5) years. Overall, 35.66% of patients suffered from at least one MACE during follow up. Using a Cox Proportional Hazards regression model analysis, several independent factors were associated with MACE during follow up: CAD duration (p < 0.001), COPD/Asthma (p = 0.021), heart valve disease (p = 0.031), multivessel disease (p = 0.005), insulin treatment (p < 0.001), statins treatment (p < 0.001), and clopidogrel treatment (p = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed high rates of MACE in a large real-world series of PCI-revascularized patients with T2D and CAD with no history of MI or stroke. These data represent a potential opportunity to improve the clinical management of these patients.

Contemporary Management of Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries. Assessment of pre-test probability (PTP) based on patient's characteristics, gender and symptoms, help to identify more accurate patient's clinical likelihood of coronary artery disease. Consequently, non-invasive imaging tests are performed more appropriately to rule in or rule out CAD rather than invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is the first-line non-invasive imaging technique in patients with suspected CAD and could be used to plan and guide coronary intervention. Invasive coronary angiography remains the gold-standard method for the identification and characterization of coronary artery stenosis. However, it is recommended in patients where the imaging tests are non-conclusive, and the clinical likelihood is very high, remembering that in clinical practice, approximately 30 to 70% of patients with symptoms and/or signs of ischemia, referred to coronary angiography, have non obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA). In this contest, physiology and imaging-guided revascularization represent the cornerstone of contemporary management of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) patients allowing us to focus specifically on ischemia-inducing stenoses. Finally, we also discuss contemporary medical therapeutic approach for secondary prevention. The aim of this review is to provide an updated diagnostic and therapeutic approach for the management of patients with stable coronary artery disease.