Dyspnea and Reversibility Profile of P2Y12 Antagonists: Systematic Review of New Antiplatelet Drugs

Background

Dyspnea has been consecutively reported in some trials evaluating new P2Y₁₂ inhibitors.

Objective

We aimed to review and quantify the global risk of dyspnea of recent P2Y₁₂ inhibitor drugs, and evaluate its association with the reversibility profile of P2Y₁₂ inhibitors.

Methods

A database search (March 2013) retrieved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing new antiplatelet drugs (ticagrelor, prasugrel, cangrelor, elinogrel) with clopidogrel. The primary outcome was the incidence of dyspnea. Placebo-controlled trials were excluded. Meta-analysis was performed and estimates were expressed as risk ratio (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs). Dyspnea incidence was evaluated according to the reversibility profile of P2Y₁₂ antagonists.

Results

We found eight RCTs including 41,289 patients. Prasugrel was not associated with an increased risk of dyspnea (RR 1.09, 95 % CI 0.93–1.27), whereas ticagrelor (RR 1.95, 95 % CI 1.37–2.77), cangrelor (RR 2.42, 95 % CI 1.36–4.33), and elinogrel (RR 3.25, 95 % CI 1.57–6.72) showed an increased risk of dyspnea. Reversible inhibitors significantly increased the risk of dyspnea compared with the irreversible inhibitor, prasugrel, through adjusted indirect comparison (RR 1.99, 95 % CI 1.40–2.82).

Conclusions

The reversible P2Y₁₂ antagonists ticagrelor, cangrelor, and elinogrel have an increased incidence of dyspnea in increasing order when compared with irreversible P2Y₁₂ inhibitors such as clopidogrel or prasugrel.