Comparison of Ticagrelor and Clopidogrel on Reperfusion in Patients With AMI Undergoing PPCI Evaluated by SPECT

The patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) present high mortality and morbidity rate, and also have malignant prognosis even if they could survive. The mortality and prognosis has been improved markedly because of the treatment with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). However, the issue of no-reflow after revascularization has not been solved yet. The mechanisms of no-reflow in human being were regarded mainly as micro-embolism in coronary micro-circulation with thrombus or debris from atherosclerotic plaque, coronary micro-vasculature spasm and other conditions.

Therefore, an agent with potent antithrombotic and micro-vasculature dilation function would be more effective on prevention of no-reflow after coronary revascularization. Ticagrelor was demonstrated to be a potent platelet inhibitor and a potent micro-vessel dilator which can influence metabolism of adenosine.

Ticagrelor can inhibit adenosine uptake in vitro and subsequently augments cardiac blood flow in a canine model of reactive hypoxia- or adenosine-induced blood flow increases. In a dog coronary thrombosis model, ticagrelor blocks ADP-induced platelet activation and aggregation; prevents platelet-mediated thrombosis; prolongs reperfusion time and reduces re-occlusion and cyclic flow variation; and significantly decreases infarct size and rapidly restores myocardial tissue perfusion. These findings suggest that ticagrelor may have additional benefits in patients with acute coronary syndrome beyond inhibition of platelet aggregation, which is advantageous to the dilation of microcirculation and improvement of myocardial perfusion. AMISTAD study shows that: adenosine reperfusion therapy can reduce 33% of the infarction area assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) detection. AMISTAD- 2 study showed that: adenosine early reperfusion therapy can reduce the composite end point of death and heart failure events. Additionally, ticagrelor is a non-precursor agent, playing a role directly on platelet inhibition.

Myocardial perfusion imaging with SPECT is among the most widely used and well-established noninvasive tools for the diagnosis of ischemic coronary disease. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients with coronary artery disease and to be accurate in identifying areas of prior myocardial infarction.

Given the evidence (from PLATO trial) of greater IPA with ticagrelor than clopidogrel, similar risk of major bleeding and probable effect of micro-vasculature dilation due to adenosine, ticagrelor will improve the reperfusion and decrease the infarct size significantly.