Platelet Aggregation in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Kidney Dysfunction Taking Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor

About 35% of patients hospitalized with Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) have some degree of renal dysfunction. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not only associated to worse prognosis in ACS patients, but leads also to an increased risk of bleeding, which may importantly influence the risk-benefit ratio of antiplatelet therapy in this population. The responsible mechanisms for increased rate of ischemic events in this population are not completely elucidated. Antiplatelet therapy is of paramount importance in the treatment of ACS, but its benefit in CKD patients is not well established. This population is often excluded or underrepresented in large clinical trials, and the indication of antiplatelet therapy is often extrapolated from studies in patients with preserved renal function. In recent meta-analysis, Palmer et al. sought to evaluate the benefits and risks of antiplatelet agents in patients with CKD and concluded that in patients with ACS or scheduled for angioplasty already taking aspirin, the addition of clopidogrel or glycoprotein IIb / IIIa inhibitors have little or no impact in reducing the incidence of myocardial infarction, death or need for revascularization. In the PLATO trial, ticagrelor (a new reversible inhibitor of P2Y12 receptor with faster onset of action and greater platelet inhibition) was compared to clopidogrel in patients with high risk ACS and was associated to a 16% risk reduction on the occurrence of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke. In a pre-specified sub-analysis, data from patients with CKD were compared to those obtained from the population with normal renal function and suggests that the benefit of ticagrelor may be even greater in patients with CKD. Two hypotheses were considered to explain these results: 1. Greater and more consistent platelet inhibition achieved with ticagrelor would be more effective in reducing ischemic events in this population at increased thrombotic risk; 2. Pleiotropic effects o