ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the efficacy of ticagrelor for treating elderly acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with elective PCI and having low response to clopidogrel; to explore the bleeding risks induced by ticagrelor replacement. Methods: A total of 945 ACS patients ≥ 65 years treated in our hospital from 2014-01 to 2017-01 were enrolled. All patients received aspirin and clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), thrombelastography (TEG) was used to detect platelet inhibition rate when DAPT ≥ 5 days. Based on platelet inhibition rate, the patients were divided into 2 groups:Ticagrelor replacement group, n=293 patients with low response to clopidogrel and switched to ticagrelor treatment, when adjusted DAPT ≥ 5 days, platelet inhibition rate was rechecked to compare the changes; Clopidogrel group, the patients were continuously treated by the same medication, n=652. The patients were followed-up for 3 months, bleeding events were evaluated by TIMI criteria and compared between 2 groups. Risk factors of ticagrelor induced bleeding were assessed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results: Platelet inhibition rates in Ticagrelor replacement group were (51.70±42.90) %, (48.99±41.85) % and (55.08±25.70) % at (5-7) d, (8-14) d and (15-90) d ticagrelor treatment, which were higher than previous clopidogrel treatment (14.50±24.15) %, all P<0.05. The incidences of severe bleeding events were similar between 2 groups, P=0.96. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis presented that female (OR=4.329, P=0.000), low body weight (OR=0.817, P=0.039) and elevated fasting blood glucose (OR=1.251, P=0.028) were the independent risk factors for bleeding complication in ticagrelor treated elderly ACS patients. Conclusion: Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor may faster and more effectively inhibit platelet aggregation without increasing severe bleeding; female, low body weight and elevated fasting blood glucose were the independent risk factors for bleeding complication in ticagrelor treated elderly ACS patients with elective PCI.