Technology Appraisal Guidance No. 236
Source: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
1. Guidance
1.1 Ticagrelor in combination with low-dose aspirin is recommended for up to 12 months as a treatment option in adults with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) that is, people:
- with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) – defined as ST elevation or new left bundle branch block on electrocardiogram – that cardiologists intend to treat with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or
- with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or
- admitted to hospital with unstable angina – defined as ST or T wave changes on electrocardiogram suggestive of ischaemia plus one of the characteristics defined in section 1.2. Before ticagrelor is continued beyond the initial treatment, the diagnosis of unstable angina should first be confirmed, ideally by a cardiologist.
1.2 For the purposes of this guidance, characteristics to be used in defining treatment with ticagrelor for unstable angina are: age 60 years or older; previous myocardial infarction or previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); coronary artery disease with stenosis of 50% or more in at least two vessels; previous ischaemic stroke; previous transient ischaemic attack, carotid stenosis of at least 50%, or cerebral revascularisation; diabetes mellitus; peripheral arterial disease; or chronic renal dysfunction, defined as a creatinine clearance of less than 60 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area.
The guidance shown above constitutes Section 1 of the full document. A copy of the full document and a summary of the evidence is available on the Internet at http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA236
This guidance represents the view of the Institute which was arrived at after careful consideration of the available evidence. Health professionals are expected to fully take it into account when exercising their clinical judgement. This guidance does not, however, override the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate decisions in the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.
© Copyright National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. All rights reserved. This material may be freely reproduced for educational and not for profit purposes within the NHS. No reproduction by or for commercial organisations is permitted without the express written permission of the Institute.
Enquiries concerning the guidance should be addressed to: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA. email: nice@nice.nhs.uk
Ticagrelor for the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes.
Issue Date: October 2011
