Ticagrelor Reduces Thromboinflammatory Markers in Patients With Pneumonia

Despite treatment advances for sepsis and pneumonia, significant improvements in outcome have not been realized. Antiplatetet therapy may improve outcome in pneumonia and sepsis. In this study, the authors show that ticagrelor reduced leukocytes with attached platelets as welt as the inflammatory biomarker interleukin (IL)-6. Pneumonia patients receiving ticagrelor required less supplemental oxygen and lung function tests trended toward improvement. Disruption of the P2Y 12 receptor in a murine model protected against inflammatory response, lung permeability, and mortality. Results indicate a mechanistic link between platelets, leukocytes, and lung injury in settings of pneumonia and sepsis, and suggest possible therapeutic approaches to reduce complications.(Targeting Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregates in Pneumonia With Ticagrelor [XANTHIPPE]; (NCTO188369) Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.