Peripheral Endothelial Function Assessment of Patients on Ticagrelor vs. Clopidogrel Who Have Undergone PCI

Usage of antiplatelet agents and cardiac procedures such as coronary angioplasty has dramatically improved the morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery disease. In patients with a coronary stent, dual antiplatelet therapy is recommended. Aspirin is the main antiplatelet agent used. For many years, clopidogrel was the second antiplatelet of choice. Recent studies have revealed new antiplatelet drugs that can substitute clopidogrel, one of which is ticagrelor. The degree to which ticagrelor reduced the overall mortality compared to clopidogrel in the PLATO trial suggested that ticagrelor possibly has a pleiotropic effect and that the reduction in mortality is not simply due to its antiplatelet effects. The ticagrelor molecule resembles adenosine. Adenosine has been shown to be cardioprotective. The aim of this project is to study the effects of ticagrelor on the arterial system using a noninvasive method. The study will employ the measurement of peripheral endothelial function of patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention who are on ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel using a cross over trial design.