title: The PLATO trial: do you believe in magic?
abstract: The PLATO trial revealed a remarkable advantage of ticagrelor over clopidogrel in ACS patients. Unless the regulatory authorities discover serious flaws with the study, which is unlikely, the drug may substantially change the present landscape of oral antiplatelet therapy, especially in high-risk patients. Despite a somewhat unfavourable safety profile, ticagrelor has a lot of room to compensate for these well-defined side effects based on a documented absolute mortality reduction, solid prevention of MI, and convincing pattern of benefit growing over time.
authors.affiliation: HeartDrug Research Laboratories, Johns Hopkins University, Towson, MD 21204, USA. heartdrug@aol.com
authors.forename: Victor L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Serebruany
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atar
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000139:chemically induced; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077486:Ticagrelor; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000077486:Ticagrelor; D000241:Adenosine; D013988:Ticlopidine