Abstract 19111: XANTHIPPE: Examining the Effect of Ticagrelor on Platelet Activation, Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregates, and Acute Lung Injury in Pneumonia

Introduction: Despite advances in supportive treatment and antibiotic therapy for pneumonia, significant improvement in the early and late mortality have yet to be realized and increased rates of adverse cardiovascular events remain an issue. Recently, a role for platelets in inflammatory and immune responses has been identified, in addition to their established contribution to hemostasis and thrombosis. Data generated from preclinical animal models and retrospective clinical review indicates that anti-platelet therapy may improve outcomes due to lung injury and pneumonia. A retrospective analysis of the PLATO trial, in which patients with acute coronary syndrome were randomized to receive ticagrelor or clopidogrel, suggests that ticagrelor might be associated with lower mortality in subjects who subsequently developed pneumonia, which could reflect either stronger platelet P2Y12 inhibition or potential non-platelet effects of ticagrelor. The XANTHIPPE study was a prospective randomized trial undertaken t...