The effect of ticagrelor on growth of small abdominal aortic aneurysms-a randomized controlled trial

• Aims: To evaluate if ticagrelor, an effective platelet inhibitor without known non-responders, could inhibit growth of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods and results: In this multi-centre randomized controlled trial, double-blinded for ticagrelor and placebo, acetylic salicylic acid naive patients with AAA and with a maximum aortic diameter 35-49mm were included. The primary outcome was mean reduction in log-transformed AAA volume growth rate (%) measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 12months compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes include AAA-diameter growth rate and intraluminal thrombus (ILT) volume enlargement rate. A total of 144 patients from eight Swedish centres were randomized (72 in each group). MRI AAA volume increase was 9.1% for the ticagrelor group and 7.5% for the placebo group (P=0.205) based on intention-to-treat analysis, and 8.5% vs. 7.4% in a per-protocol analysis (P=0.372). MRI diameter change was 2.5mm vs. 1.8mm (P=0.113), US diameter change 2.3mm vs. 2.2mm (P=0.778), and ILT volume change 12.9% vs. 10.4% (P=0.590). Conclusion: In this RCT, platelet inhibition with ticagrelor did not reduce growth of small AAAs. Whether the ILT has an important pathophysiological role for AAA growth cannot be determined based on this study due to the observed lack of thrombus modulating effect of ticagrelor.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Growth inhibitor

Intraluminal thrombus

Ticagrelor

Anti-platelet treatment

Randomized controlled trial

Aortic

volume

Aortic diameter

bleeding

acute coronary syndromes

intraluminal thrombus

mural thrombus

double-blind

steady flow

volume

clopidogrel

Cardiovascular System & Cardiology

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)