Key result
Ticagrelor linked to reversible symptomatic 2:1 Mobitz type II AV block post-PCI.
Why the study?
Ticagrelor is associated with conduction abnormalities, but clinically significant bradyarrhythmias remain rare.
Can ticagrelor induce clinically significant atrioventricular block in post-PCI patients?
Case Report (n=1)
Can ticagrelor induce clinically significant atrioventricular block in post-PCI patients?
Ticagrelor can rarely induce clinically significant AV block, and its withdrawal should be considered before resorting to pacemaker implantation in post-PCI patients presenting with bradyarrhythmias.
Warrants vigilance for conduction abnormalities with ticagrelor post-PCI; leaves open the true incidence and risk factors.
Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor is standard following PCI. Ticagrelor is increasingly preferred due to its potent, reversible platelet inhibition. While generally safe, ticagrelor has been associated with conduction abnormalities, including sinus pauses and atrioventricular (AV) block, though clinically significant bradyarrhythmias remain rare. We report a rare case of symptomatic 2:1 Mobitz type II AV block following ticagrelor initiation post‐PCI and emphasize the importance of timely recognition to avoid unnecessary pacemaker implantation. We describe a 68‐year‐old woman presenting with unstable angina. Coronary angiography revealed significant mid‐RCA disease, and PCI with a sirolimus‐eluting stent was performed successfully. She was discharged on aspirin and ticagrelor, without rate‐limiting drugs, as her baseline heart rate was 60 bpm. Two weeks later, she developed dizziness and dyspnea (NYHA III). ECG showed 2:1 Mobitz type II AV block with a ventricular rate of 40 bpm. Repeat angiography confirmed a patent stent, and thyroid profile was normal. Holter monitoring corroborated persistent AV block. Ticagrelor was discontinued and replaced with clopidogrel, resulting in the restoration of sinus rhythm. On follow‐up, the patient remained asymptomatic with normal ECG findings. Ticagrelor can rarely induce clinically significant AV block even in the absence of other rate‐limiting drugs. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion when post‐PCI patients on ticagrelor present with bradyarrhythmias. Withdrawal of ticagrelor should be considered before resorting to pacemaker implantation, thereby preventing unnecessary interventions.
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Arora et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Unstable angina post-PCI (n=1). Ticagrelor was evaluated on Development of 2:1 Mobitz type II AV block. Ticagrelor induced symptomatic 2:1 Mobitz type II AV block in a 68-year-old woman post-PCI, which completely resolved after discontinuing ticagrelor and switching to clopidogrel.
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