Comparison of Triflusal with Aspirin in the Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events; Α Randomised Clinical Trial

Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2019;17(6):635-643. doi: 10.2174/1570161116666180605090520.

Abstract

Background: Triflusal has demonstrated an efficacy similar to aspirin in the prevention of vascular events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (ΜΙ) and ischaemic stroke but with less bleeding events.

Objective: We performed a randomised, multicentre, phase 4 clinical trial to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of triflusal versus aspirin, administered for 12 months in patients eligible to receive a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibitor.

Methods: Patients with stable coronary artery disease or with a history of non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke were randomly assigned to receive either triflusal 300 mg twice or 600 mg once daily or aspirin 100 mg once daily for 12 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of: (a) ΜΙ, (b) stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic), or, (c) death from vascular causes for the entire follow-up period. The primary safety endpoints were the rate of bleeding events as defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria.

Results: At 12-month follow-up, an equivalent result was revealed between the triflusal (n=559) and aspirin (n=560) in primary efficacy endpoint. Specifically, the combined efficacy outcome rate (i.e. MI, stroke or death from vascular causes) difference was equal to -1.3% (95% confidence interval -1.1 to 3.5) and lied within the a-priori defined equivalence interval (p<0.001). Regarding the primary safety endpoints, patients on triflusal treatment were 50% less likely to develop bleeding events according to the BARC criteria, and especially any clinically overt sign of haemorrhage that requires diagnostic studies, hospitalisation or special treatment (BARC type 2).

Conclusion: The efficacy of triflusal in the secondary prevention of vascular events is similar to aspirin when administered for 12 months. Importantly, triflusal significantly reduced the incidence of ΜΙ and showed a better safety profile compared with aspirin. (ASpirin versus Triflusal for Event Reduction In Atherothrombosis Secondary prevention, ASTERIAS trial; Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT02616497).

Keywords: Aspirin; bleeding; coronary artery disease; myocardial infarction; stroke; triflusal..

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase IV
  • Comparative Study
  • Equivalence Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aspirin / adverse effects
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Brain Ischemia / mortality
  • Brain Ischemia / prevention & control*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / mortality
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism / diagnosis
  • Intracranial Embolism / mortality
  • Intracranial Embolism / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / mortality
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Recurrence
  • Risk Factors
  • Salicylates / adverse effects
  • Salicylates / therapeutic use*
  • Secondary Prevention*
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / prevention & control*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Salicylates
  • triflusal
  • Aspirin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02616497