There is growing evidence that standard dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel is not as effective in the setting of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest as in normothermic patients. The reasons for this are probably slower gastrointestinal motility, absorption and liver metabolism required for clopidogrel to take action. Since ticagrelor has faster intestinal absorption and no need for liver metabolism we expect its effect to be good even in patients with therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. Patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest and percutaneous coronary intervention will be randomised into two groups. One will be treated with ASA and clopidogrel and the other with ASA and ticagrelor. Blood samples will be collected before and 2, 4, 12, 22 and 48 hours after P2Y12 inhibitor administration. Platelet function will be measured by VerifyNow P2Y12 assay and by Multiplate ADPTest. Differences between the groups will be analysed. Hypothesis: Antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor is more effective than therapy with clopidogrel in the comatose survivors of cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
57
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
VerifyNow P2Y12Test - Platelet Reactivity
Platelet reactivity reflects P2Y12 inhibitor effect. Higher values mean normal platelet reactivity due to low P2Y12 inhibition response, while lower values mean decreased platelet reactivity due to the effect of a P2Y12 inhibitor. High on-treatment platelet reactivity was defined as \>208 PRU.
Time frame: 12 h after P2Y12 inhibitor loading
VerifyNow P2Y12Test - % Inhibition
% inhibition reflects P2Y12 inhibitor effect regarding basal platelet reactivity (defined as: (1- (platelet reactivity/basal platelet reactivity)) x 100). Higher values mean better P2Y12 inhibition response. High on-treatment platelet reactivity was defined as \<11% inhibition.
Time frame: 12 hours after P2Y12 inhibitor loading
Multiplate ADP Test
Platelet activation by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) expressed in arbitrary aggregation units (U). P2Y12 inhibitors block ADP receptors and decrease platelet activation by ADP. Higher values mean less effect of P2Y12 inhibitors, lower values mean more effect of P2Y12 inhibitors on platelets. High on-treatment platelet reactivity was defined as \>46 U.
Time frame: 12 hours after P2Y12 inhibitor loading
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