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Published on: November 8, 2024
Ticagrelor-induced life-threatening bleeding via the cyclosporine-mediated drug interaction: A case report
Chi Zhang1, Long Shen, Min Cui
1Department of Pharmacy Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Ticagrelor can cause severe bleeding in transplant patients due to drug interactions with cyclosporine. This case highlights the risk of drug-drug interactions with P2Y12 receptor antagonists in vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
- Transplantation
Background:
- Ticagrelor is a first-line antiplatelet agent for acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
- Bleeding is a significant adverse reaction associated with ticagrelor therapy.
- Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant commonly used in transplant recipients.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old male, post-renal transplant and on cyclosporine, developed ACS.
- Ticagrelor was initiated for ACS treatment.
- The patient experienced severe gum bleeding and bloody stools, indicative of a life-threatening event.
Findings:
- The patient's symptoms resolved after discontinuing ticagrelor and switching to clopidogrel.
- Supportive care included proton pump inhibitors, hemocoagulase, and blood product transfusions.
- This suggests a potential ticagrelor-cyclosporine drug-drug interaction.
Implications:
- Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can lead to severe adverse events, particularly in transplant patients.
- Careful consideration of antiplatelet therapy is crucial in patients on concomitant medications like cyclosporine.
- Optimizing P2Y12 receptor antagonist use is essential for safety and efficacy in fragile patient populations.
Rationale:
Ticagrelor has become one of the first-line antiplatelet agents in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients recommend by the guideline due to its more potent and predictable antiplatelet effect. However, bleeding is still a severe drug adverse reaction of ticagrelor therapy. We report a first case on ticagrelor-induced life-threatening bleeding via the cyclosporine-mediated drug interaction.
Patient Concerns:
A 58-year-old Chinese male who received cyclosporine 200 mg daily 5 years after renal transplantation. Ticagrelor was added for treating ACS. Unfortunately, gum bleeding and life-threatening bloody stool appeared 8 days later, accompanied with the sudden drop of blood pressure.
Interventions:
Ticagrelor was replaced with clopidogrel. Intravenous injection of proton pump inhibitor and agkistrodon snake venom hemocoagulase were used to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, packed red blood cells and plasma were continuously transfused to maintain adequate blood volume.
Outcomes:
The patient's bloody stool was well controlled after treatment.
Lessons:
The present case demonstrates that a potential drug-drug interaction (DDI) may lead to a life-threatening drug adverse reaction especially in special subjects. Therefore, regarding DDI, optimizing antiplatelet treatment should be considered for the efficacy and safety of P2Y12 receptor antagonist in this fragile population.
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