Rapid Intravenous Platelet Inhibition Beneficial During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

In a large randomized trial, cangrelor surpassed clopidogrel for prevention of periprocedural events.

Unlike clopidogrel, a prodrug requiring metabolic conversion, cangrelor is an intravenous active PY₁₂ inhibitor with rapid onset of platelet inhibition (within a few minutes) and full recovery of platelet function within 60 minutes after discontinuation. These valuable features justified further study in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), despite two early negative trials (JW Cardiology Nov 15 2009).

In CHAMPION PHOENIX, a manufacturer-sponsored, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, investigators compared intravenous cangrelor with standard clopidogrel loading doses during PCI. A total of 11,145 patients undergoing urgent or elective PCI were assigned to receive cangrelor (30 µg/kg bolus and 4 µg/kg infusion f…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)