Background:
Coronary vascular function of a chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) immediately after recanalization is known to be poor and to be partially improved by pre-treatment with loading dose of ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel. It is unknown if this vascular dysfunction is maintained at long-term follow-up and may be improved by 1-year dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel.
Methods:
The TIGER is a prospective, open-label, two parallel-group controlled clinical trial, which 1:1 randomized 50 CTO patients to pre-PCI loading dose and subsequent 1-year DAPT with ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel. Coronary blood flow (CBF) under stepwise adenosine infusion was assessed after drug loading dose and at follow-up and compared between the two drug groups, adjusting for time of follow-up.
Results:
Out of 50 patients with index CBF evaluation, 38 (76%) patients underwent angiographic follow-up (23 and 15 at 1 and 3-year, respectively). A higher CBF area under the curve (AUC), already observed after loading dose in ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel group (p=0.027), was maintained at follow-up (AUC 34815.22±24206.06 vs. AUC 22712.47±13768.95; p=0.071). Specifically, whereas high ticagrelor loading dose-related CBF was sustained at follow-up (p=0.933), clopidogrel loading dose-related CBF increased at follow-up (p=0.039).
Conclusion:
The TIGER trial showed that DAPT with ticagrelor may maintain a higher CBF in a recanalized CTO as compared to clopidogrel, whose treated patients exhibit a lower CBF immediately after PCI with slight increase at follow-up. The clinical value of such sustained higher coronary flow should be evaluated in a larger group of patients.
Procedural outcomes and long-term survival among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of a chronic total occlusion in native coronary arteries: a 20-year experience
