Comparison of prasugrel and clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Antiplatelet agents are the cornerstone of treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Clopidogrel, when added to aspirin, has demonstrated considerable success at reducing thrombotic complications of ACS and/or PCI compared to aspirin alone and is standard of care for the management of patients with ACS and in patients undergoing PCI. Prasugrel is a novel thienopyridine antiplatelet agent recently approved for the treatment of patients with ACS undergoing PCI. Prasugrel provides greater and more consistent platelet inhibition than clopidogrel due to earlier and more extensive formation of its active metabolite. The enhanced platelet inhibition with prasugrel led to a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with moderate to high risk ACS scheduled for PCI in the phase 3 TRITON-TIMI 38 trial. This benefit was seen more in patients suffering a STEMI and those with diabetes. However, this reduction in events was met with a significant increase in the risk of bleeding which overcame prasugrel's benefit in certain groups. Future studies with prasugrel are needed to determine its optimal utilization to minimize bleeding risks and evaluate its outcomes in ACS and safety profile in special patient populations.