Comparison of pharmacodynamic effects of ticagrelor vs prasugrel in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with coronary heart disease

What is known and objective Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk of thrombotic complications. Studies have indicated that patients with T2DM have impaired clopidogrel-induced antiplatelet effect. Ticagrelor and prasugrel are two latest generation P2Y12 inhibitors with advantageous platelet inhibitory profiles. However, the pharmacodynamic differences between the two drugs in patients with T2DM remain poorly explored. Methods This study, involving 140 patients with T2DM following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), evaluated the efficacy of aspirin upon concomitant use of prasugrel (10 mg/d) or ticagrelor (90 mg/d). Platelet reactivity was assessed by value of ADP-induced light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation-platelet reactivity index (VASP-PRI) at baseline, 7 and 30 days after randomized P2Y12 inhibitor treatment. Results The study showed a decreased platelet reactivity after use of P2Y12 inhibitors (both P < .001). On the basis of comparison between regimens, apart from the prasugrel group having a significantly higher LTA value at the 30-day time point (P = .043), there existed no significant differences in platelet reactivity at separate time points (all P > .05). As for intragroup measurements, when compared with 7-day and 30-day time points, similar platelet reactivity was documented in the ticagrelor group (both P > .05), but LTA tests showed a significant increase with time (days 7-30) in the prasugrel group (P = .050). What is new and conclusion Although ticagrelor and prasugrel have similar platelet inhibitory effects in patients with T2DM, if a P2Y12 inhibitor is necessitated in patients with T2DM, ticagrelor might exert a more stable antiplatelet effect with 30-day short-term treatment.