Can a common blood thinner stop silent heart attacks?

NCT ID NCT02110303

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at whether a blood thinner called ticagrelor can lower heart attack risk in people with high-risk fatty plaques in their heart arteries. Researchers used a special PET scan to find these plaques in 220 patients with coronary artery disease. Participants took either ticagrelor or a placebo for 12 months to see if the drug reduced markers of heart injury.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

ticagrelor (blood thinner)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that ticagrelor reduces heart attack risk in people with silent plaque ruptures, leading to better prevention strategies.

What could go wrong

This is a Phase 2/3 trial with only 220 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Ticagrelor also increases bleeding risk, which could outweigh benefits.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

coronary artery disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Edinburgh Heart Centre

    Edinburgh, Lothian, EH16 4SA, United Kingdom