Comparison of Ticagrelor Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in STEMI and NSTEMI Patients

The European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines recommend use of ticagrelor or prasugrel as a treatment of choice in patients with both STEMI and NSTEMI (class of recommendation I, level of evidence B). Recommended dosing regimens of ticagrelor are identical in STEMI and NSTEMI patients, although epidemiology, clinical approach and early outcomes differ between these two types of myocardial infarction. It is not known whether PK and PD features of ticagrelor are uniform in STEMI and NSTEMI patients. However, the existing body of evidence suggest that PK and PD of ticagrelor may be attenuated in STEMI patients compared to healthy subjects and patients with stable coronary artery disease, which may expose STEMI patients at increased risk of developing thrombotic complications secondary to insufficient platelet inhibition. The PINPOINT study could provide a valuable insight into the knowledge regarding ticagrelor action in STEMI vs. NSTEMI patients.

Since there is no reference study comparing pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor in STEMI and NSTEMI patients, we decided to perform an internal pilot study of approximately 30 patients (15 patients with each type of myocardial infarction) for estimating the final sample size.

Inclusion criteria

• provision of informed consent prior to any study specific procedures
• diagnosis of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
• male or non-pregnant female, 18 years old and older
• provision of informed consent for angiography and PCI

Exclusion criteria

• treatment with ticlopidine, clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor within 14 days before the study enrollment
• hypersensitivity to ticagrelor
• current treatment with oral anticoagulant or chronic therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin
• active bleeding
• history of intracranial hemorrhage
• recent gastrointestinal bleeding (within 30 days)
• history of coagulation disorders
• history of moderate or severe hepatic impairment
• history of major surgery or severe trauma (within 3 months)
• second or third degree atrioventricular block during screening for eligibility
• patient required dialysis
• manifest infection or inflammatory state
• Killip class III or IV during screening for eligibility
• respiratory failure
• current therapy with strong CYP3A inhibitors or strong CYP3A inducers