Background: The platelet inhibitory effects induced by oral P2Y 12 receptor antagonists are delayed in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI). In turn, this leads to a gap in platelet inhibition, exposing patients to an increased risk of early thrombotic complications and underscoring the need to define strategies associated with more effective platelet inhibition in the peri–primary percutaneous coronary intervention period. Cangrelor is an intravenous P2Y 12 inhibitor with prompt and potent antiplatelet effects. However, to date, there are limited data on the effects of cangrelor used in combination with ticagrelor in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Moreover, questions have emerged on the potential for drug–drug interactions during the transition from cangrelor to oral P2Y 12 inhibitors. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmacodynamic study conducted in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (n=50) who were randomized to treatment with either cangrelor or matching placebo (bolus followed by 2-hour infusion). All patients received ticagrelor 180-mg loading dose administered as crushed tablets at the time of cangrelor/placebo bolus administration. Pharmacodynamic analyses were performed at 8 time points. Pharmacodynamic effects were measured as P2Y 12 reaction units by VerifyNow and platelet reactivity index by vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein. Results: Compared with placebo, cangrelor was associated with reduced P2Y 12 reaction units as early as 5 minutes after bolus, which persisted during the entire duration of drug infusion, including at 30 minutes (63 [32–93] versus 214 [183–245]; mean difference, 152 [95% CI, 108–195]; P <0·001; primary end point). Parallel findings were shown with platelet reactivity index. Accordingly, high on-treatment platelet reactivity rates were reduced with cangrelor. After discontinuation of cangrelor/placebo infusion, there were no differences in levels of platelet reactivity between groups, ruling out a drug–drug interaction when cangrelor and ticagrelor are concomitantly administered. Conclusions: In patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, cangrelor is an effective strategy to bridge the gap in platelet inhibition associated with the use of oral P2Y 12 inhibition induced by ticagrelor. Ticagrelor can be administered as a crushed formulation concomitantly with cangrelor without any apparent drug–drug interaction. The clinical implications of these pharmacodynamic findings warrant investigation in an adequately powered clinical trial. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT03247738

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We present the case of a 27-year-old male presenting with sudden-onset retrosternal chest pain, dyspnea, and cardiac tamponade due to erosion of an Amplatzer Atrial Septal Occluder (ASO) through the left atrial wall 4 years after placement. Emergent surgical management of the hemopericardium, followed by surgical removal of the device, repair of the left atrial wall perforation, and patch closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD) were performed successfully. Tissue erosion leading to hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade should be suspected in subjects with a history of transcatheter ASD closure who present with acute chest pain or dyspnea and signs of hemodynamic instability © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.