Effects of Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel on Coronary Microcirculation in Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results of the PROtecting MICROcirculation During Coronary Angioplasty (PROMICRO)-3 Randomised Study

Besides being at least as effective as prasugrel in inhibiting platelet aggregation, ticagrelor has been shown to have additional properties potentially affecting coronary microcirculation. We sought to compare the effects of ticagrelor and prasugrel on absolute coronary blood flow (Q) and microvascular resistance (R) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The PROMICRO-3 study shows that in patients with stable CAD undergoing PCI pre-treatment with a loading dose of ticagrelor compared with prasugrel improves post-procedural coronary flow and microvascular function and seems to reduce the related myocardial injury.