Coronary artery bypass grafting-related bleeding complications in real-life acute coronary syndrome patients treated with clopidogrel or ticagrelor.
OBJECTIVE
Ticagrelor reduces thrombotic events compared with clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome, but may also increase bleeding complications. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)-related bleeding complications have not previously been compared in clopidogrel and ticagrelor-treated patients outside the controlled environment of clinical trials.


METHODS
Four hundred and five consecutive CABG patients with acute coronary syndrome were included in a prospective observational study. The patients were treated with aspirin and ticagrelor (n = 173) or aspirin and clopidogrel (n = 232). Ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued 5 days before surgery whenever deemed possible. Major bleeding complications according to modified blood conservation using antifibrinolytics in a randomized trial criteria (postoperative blood loss >1500 ml/12 h, re-exploration, red blood cell transfusion >10 units or death because of bleeding) were compared in all patients and when ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued ≥5 days (n = 280), 2-4 days (n = 40) or 0-1 day before surgery (n = 85).


RESULTS
Major bleeding complications did not differ significantly between ticagrelor- and clopidogrel-treated patients when all patients were compared (14.5 vs 13.8%, P = 0.89). Likewise, there were no significant differences between ticagrelor and clopidogrel when either drug was discontinued ≥5 days before surgery (6.8 vs 9.9%, P = 0.40) or 2-4 days before surgery (6.3 vs 25.0%, P = 0.21). When ticagrelor/clopidogrel was discontinued 0-1 day before surgery, there was a strong trend towards higher incidence of major bleeding in ticagrelor-treated patients (41.0 vs 21.7%, P = 0.063).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in major bleeding complications overall or when ticagrelor or clopidogrel was used in accordance with guidelines. In patients on dual antiplatelet medication up to 1 day before surgery, there tended to be more bleeding complications in ticagrelor-treated patients.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Emma C
EC
Hansson
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Helena
H
Rexius
Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mikael
M
Dellborg
Department of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Per
P
Albertsson
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden anders.jeppsson@vgregion.se.
Anders
A
Jeppsson
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077486:Ticagrelor; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000077486:Ticagrelor; D000241:Adenosine; D013988:Ticlopidine
Acute coronary syndrome; Bleeding; Cardiac surgery; Dual antiplatelet therapy; Transfusion