Early clopidogrel versus prasugrel use among contemporary STEMI and NSTEMI patients in the US: insights from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry

Background

P2Y12 antagonist therapy improves outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Novel agents in this class are now available in the US. We studied the introduction of prasugrel into contemporary MI practice to understand the appropriateness of its use and assess for changes in antiplatelet management practices.

Methods and Results

Using ACTION Registry‐GWTG (Get‐with‐the‐Guidelines), we evaluated patterns of P2Y12 antagonist use within 24 hours of admission in 100 228 ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 158 492 Non‐ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients at 548 hospitals between October 2009 and September 2012. Rates of early P2Y12 antagonist use were approximately 90% among STEMI and 57% among NSTEMI patients. From 2009 to 2012, prasugrel use increased significantly from 3% to 18% (5% to 30% in STEMI; 2% to 10% in NSTEMI; P for trend <0.001 for all). During the same period, we observed a decrease in use of early but not discharge P2Y12 antagonist among NSTEMI patients. Although contraindicated, 3.0% of patients with prior stroke received prasugrel. Prasugrel was used in 1.9% of patients ≥75 years and 4.5% of patients with weight <60 kg. In both STEMI and NSTEMI, prasugrel was most frequently used in patients at the lowest predicted risk for bleeding and mortality. Despite lack of supporting evidence, prasugrel was initiated before cardiac catheterization in 18% of NSTEMI patients.

Conclusions

With prasugrel as an antiplatelet treatment option, contemporary practice shows low uptake of prasugrel and delays in P2Y12 antagonist initiation among NSTEMI patients. We also note concerning evidence of inappropriate use of prasugrel, and inadequate targeting of this more potent therapy to maximize the benefit/risk ratio.

Oliguria in the premature baboon with hyaline membrane disease: a manifestation of multisystem immaturity?

To assess the temporal relationship between fluid balance and cardiopulmonary function in hyaline membrane disease (HMD), serial measurements were made of pulmonary gas exchange (Pa/A O2, PaO2, PaCO2), ventilation indices (FIO2, Ppeak, Pmin, frequency), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and fluid balance ratio (FBR) in 11 premature (140-day gestation) baboons with HMD treated with positive-pressure ventilation and continuous distending airway pressure (PPV/PEEP) for 11 days. All animals had radiographic and clinical evidence of HMD. Pa/AO2 fell initially, and, in spite of increase in Paw, remained below 0.2 for the first 42 hours. In the same time frame, the animals became progressively oliguric with FBR falling from 0.48 to 0.17 and remaining at that level through hour 43. Tachycardia and hypotension were also present during this period. The onset of the recovery phase at hour 42 was associated with concurrent improvement in Pa/AO2, fall in HR and BP, and the onset of diuresis. These data suggest that, at this development age in the immature baboon, recovery from HMD is associated with improved function of multiple organ systems. The apparent similarities in the "adaptive" timetable support the hypothesis that events associated with delivery and survival of the immature fetus result in accelerated maturation.