Sex differences among patients receiving ticagrelor monotherapy or aspirin after coronary bypass surgery: A prespecified subgroup analysis of the TiCAB trial.

BACKGROUND There is limited evidence on the association of sex with outcomes among patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and treated with ticagrelor monotherapy or aspirin. METHODS This was a pre-specified sub-analysis of TiCAB, an investigator-initiated placebo-controlled randomized trial. Primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or repeat revascularization 1 year after CABG. Safety endpoint was BARC type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding. RESULTS A total of 280 (15.0%) women and 1579 (85.0%) men were included. Compared with men, women were older (66.1 ± 10.2 vs. 70.1 ± 9.3 years) with more acute presentation (17.0% vs 21.1%). The incidence of the primary endpoint was similar between women and men (9.2% vs. 8.9%, HR 1.08, 95%CI 0.71-1.66, P = 0.71). Cardiovascular death occurred more often in women (2.9% vs 1.0%, adjusted HR 2.87, 95%CI 1.23-6.70, P = 0.02). The incidence of bleeding was similar between the sexes (2.2% vs. 2.5%, HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.51-1.65, P = 0.77). Ticagrelor vs aspirin was associated with a similar risk of the primary endpoint in women (10.6% vs. 7.9%, HR 1.39, 95%CI 0.63-3.05, P = 0.42) and men (9.5% vs. 8.2%, HR 1.15, 95%CI 0.82-1.62, P = 0.41;pinteraction = 0.69), and a similar risk of bleeding in women (2.9% vs. 1.4%, HR 2.09, 95%CI 0.38-11.41, P = 0.40) and men (2.2% vs. 2.8%, HR 0.80, 95%CI 0.42-1.52, P = 0.49;pinteraction = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS Among women and men undergoing CABG, ticagrelor monotherapy was associated with a similar risk of the primary efficacy endpoint and bleeding compared with aspirin. The risk of cardiovascular death was increased in women irrespective of antiplatelet therapy

Association of Lipoproteins with Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are DNA–protein structures released by neutrophils in response to various stimuli, including oxidized, low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Accumulating evidence suggests a role for NETs in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In this study, we investigated the potential association of lipoprotein particles and NETs in AAA in comparison to non-AAA control groups. The concentrations of neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO), the NET parameters citrullinated histone H3 (citH3) and circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), as well as of blood lipids were determined in plasma or serum of patients with AAA (n = 40), peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAD; n = 40) and healthy donors (n = 29). A sandwich ELISA detecting oxidized phosphatidylcholine in association with apolipoprotein B-100 (oxPL/apoB) was applied to measure oxidized phospholipids in circulation. The effect of lipoparticles on NET formation was tested using a DNA release assay with isolated human neutrophils. Plasma MPO, citH3 and cfDNA levels were significantly increased in AAA patients in comparison to healthy donors and PAD patients. Plasma concentrations of citH3 positively correlated with serum oxPL/apoB in AAA patients. In functional in vitro assays, the addition of oxLDL induced NET formation in pre-stimulated neutrophils. In conclusion, our data suggest a promoting role of oxLDL on NET formation in AAA patients