VerifyNow to Optimise Platelet Inhibition in Coronary Acute Syndrome (VERONICA)

The objective of the study is to establish a de-scaling strategy of P2Y12 inhibitors (P2Y12 i) with a decrease in hemorrhagic events without increasing ischemic complications based on a Platelet Function Test (PFT).

Clinical practice guidelines recommend the use of double anti-aggregation with acetylsalicylic acid and a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (P2Y12 i) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and in the choice of the latter it is very important to consider two opposing risks, Ischemia and hemorrhage. In the era of clopidogrel, platelet function tests (PFT) attempted to determine which patients were at risk of thrombotic events, but after the publication of 3 randomized studies, the absence of benefit from the use of PFT was proven except in very selected cases. The TOPIC trial opened the door to the descaling strategy of P2Y12 i with a decrease in hemorrhagic events without increasing ischemic complications. In that study, where the randomization was not based on PFT, it was demonstrated that there is a subgroup of patients who with prasugrel and ticagrelor pose an excessive level of antiaggregation and carry a high rate of complications, as high as 33 % in the net clinical end-point of ischemia and bleeding BARC ≥ 2 at 1 year. Based on that data, the recently published guidelines of the non-ST acute coronary syndrome of the European Society of Cardiology recommend with class IIB that de-escalation of P2Y12 i maybe considered an alternative strategy, especially in ACS patients deemed unsuitable for potent platelet inhibition. De-escalation may be done based on clinical judgment, or guided by platelet function testing, or CYP2C19 genotyping depending on the patient's risk profile and availability of respective assays. In VERONICA, The researchers try to demonstrate with the current study the usefulness of PFT to diagnose patients with excessive level of antiaggregation and to see if in them a descaling strategy similar to that of TOPIC could be associated with a decrease in the combined ischemia and hemorrhage events. We propose a prospective, randomized and multicentre trial in patients with ACS who have been treated with acetylsalicylic acid (AAS) + ticagrelor or prasugrel. After 1 month of discharge, antiaggregation measurement will be carried out with the VerifyNow® device (Werfen, Spain) and those with PRU ≤30 will be randomized 1:1 to continue with ticagrelor or prasugrel(control branch) vs. de-escalation to clopidogrel (intervention branch) for the remaining 11 months. The primary end-point will be the rate of the combined net clinical benefit consisting of cardiovascular death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI), nonfatal stroke and bleeding BARC ≥2 at 12 months. The total number of randomized patients will be 634 and there will be subgroup analysis of the primary end-point by diabetes, type of acute coronary syndrome or type of drug (ticagrelor or prasugrel).

Acute Coronary Syndrome, Acute Myocardial Infarction, Coronary Artery Disease, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Antiplatelet therapy, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors, Platelet Function Test, Ticagrelor, Clopidogrel, Prasugrel

Patients with ACS on Prasugrel or Ticagrelor and PRU ≤ 30 at the end of the first month will be de-escalated to Clopidogrel 75 mg q.d during 11 months.

Active comparator: Patients with ACS on Prasugrel or Ticagrelor and PRU ≤ 30 at the end of the first month will continue with these previous treatment during 11 months.

Net Adverse Cardiac Events, defined as a composite of: death from vascular causes (death from cardiovascular causes or cerebrovascular causes and any death without another known cause), non fatal MI, or non fatal stroke, Bleeding BARC type ≥ 2.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with age 18 years or above. Patient is able to understand the nature of study and has provided written informed consent. Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and who underwent PCI during the admission, who have been discharged on double. antiplatelet therapy with Acetylsalicylic Acid and Ticagrelor or Prasugrel. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with history of intracranial bleeding. Patients with contraindication for the use of Acetylsalicylic Acid or Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor or Prasugrel. Patients with major ischemic or hemorrhagic events during the first month. Patients with Thrombocytopenia <50,000 /µL. Patients with permanent oral anticoagulation. Patient is pregnant or breast feeding. Patients with impossibility to complete 1 year of follow-up. Patient´s life-expectancy is less than 24 months.

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