Purpose: Clopidogrel is the standard P2Y12 receptor inhibitor used in patients requiring both antiplatelet therapy and oral anticoagulation (OAC). We investigated the safety and efficacy of ticagrelor as an alternative to clopidogrel in patients on OAC.
Methods: A systematic electronic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for randomised controlled studies that examined the relative safety and efficacy of clopidogrel versus ticagrelor among patients requiring therapy with antiplatelet agents plus OAC.
Results: Three randomised controlled trials were identified with a total of 5659 patients. The risk of clinically significant bleeding was significantly increased among patients on dual or triple antithrombotic therapy who received ticagrelor compared with patients on clopidogrel (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.06, and OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.33, respectively). Among those on triple therapy, ticagrelor was associated with a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to clopidogrel (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.80). Patients who received dual therapy exhibited similar risk of MACE and stroke with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.56, and OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.74, respectively).
Conclusion: The use of ticagrelor as part of dual or triple antithrombotic therapy is associated with significantly higher rates of clinically relevant haemorrhagic complications compared with clopidogrel. Among triple therapy-treated patients, the use of ticagrelor might increase thromboembolic and ischaemic cardiac events.
Keywords: Anticoagulants; Antiplatelets; Atrial fibrillation; Haemorrhage; Meta-analysis.