Ticagrelor monotherapy in patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: TWILIGHT-HBR

Javier Escaned, Davide Cao, Usman Baber, Johny Nicolas, Samantha Sartori, Zhongjie Zhang, George Dangas, Dominick J. Angiolillo, Carlo Briguori, David J. Cohen, Timothy Collier, Dariusz Dudek, Michael Gibson, Robert Gil, Kurt Huber, Upendra Kaul, Ran Kornowski, Mitchell W. Krucoff, Vijay Kunadian, Shamir MehtaDavid J. Moliterno, E. Magnus Ohman, Keith G. Oldroyd, Gennaro Sardella, Samin K. Sharma, Richard Shlofmitz, Giora Weisz, Bernhard Witzenbichler, Stuart Pocock, Roxana Mehran

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80 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims Patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) represent a prevalent subgroup among those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Early aspirin discontinuation after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has emerged as a bleeding avoidance strategy. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month DAPT in a contemporary HBR population. Methods and results This prespecified analysis of the TWILIGHT trial evaluated the treatment effects of early aspirin withdrawal followed by ticagrelor monotherapy in HBR patients undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents. After 3 months of ticagrelor plus aspirin, event-free patients were randomized to 12 months of aspirin or placebo in addition to ticagrelor. A total of 1064 (17.2%) met the Academic Research Consortium definition for HBR. Ticagrelor monotherapy reduced the incidence of the primary endpoint of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 2, 3, or 5 bleeding compared with ticagrelor plus aspirin in HBR (6.3% vs. 11.4%; hazard ratio (HR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35-0.82) and non-HBR patients (3.5% vs. 5.9%; HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.77) with similar relative (Pinteraction = 0.67) but a trend towards greater absolute risk reduction in the former [−5.1% vs. −2.3%; difference in absolute risk differences (ARDs) −2.8%, 95% CI −6.4% to 0.8%, P = 0.130]. A similar pattern was observed for more severe BARC 3 or 5 bleeding with a larger absolute risk reduction in HBR patients (−3.5% vs. −0.5%; difference in ARDs −3.0%, 95% CI −5.2% to −0.8%, P = 0.008). There was no significant difference in the key secondary endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke between treatment arms, irrespective of HBR status. Conclusions Among HBR patients undergoing PCI who completed 3-month DAPT without experiencing major adverse events, aspirin discontinuation followed by ticagrelor monotherapy significantly reduced bleeding without increasing ischaemic events, compared with ticagrelor plus aspirin. The absolute risk reduction in major bleeding was larger in HBR than non-HBR patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4624-4634
Number of pages11
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume42
Issue number45
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

  • ARC-HBR
  • Aspirin
  • High bleeding risk
  • PCI
  • Ticagrelor monotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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