RESULTS OF EMATAP - A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED MULTICENTER TRIAL OF TICLOPIDINE IN PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL-DISEASE

EMATAP, a randomized stratified, placebo-controlled double-blind multi centre trial was: performed in Argentina in order to confirm the effec t of ticlopidine in the prevention of thrombotic events in patients wi th intermittent claudication. Twenty-one clinical centres enrolled 615 patients, 304 (88 diabetic and 216 non diabetic) were assigned to the ticlopidine group and 311 (95 diabetic and 216 non diabetic) to the p lacebo group. Treatments were given for 24 weeks. The baseline charact eristics were identical in both groups. The compliance was good and on ly 34 patients (17 in each group) did not I-each the last visit. Their status however was checked and known at that time and according to th e protocol, there was no patient lost to follow-up. Twenty-five patien ts experienced a first event during the follow-lip period and the resu lts show a very dramatic reduction of events in the ticlopidine group (5 vs 20), the difference being highly significant (p = 0.002) in inte ntion-to-treat analysis. If we consider the subgrouping of outcome eve nts: sudden deaths, myocardial infarctions and strokes on the one hand vascular surgery on the other hand a significant reduction is found i n the ticlopidine group. Taking into account the total deaths plus non -fatal events (9 vs 21), the results were also significant (p = 0.027) . These above results therefore demonstrate a consistent reduction in all outcome events. As regard side effects there were fewer gastro-int estinal disturbances and skin reactions than seen in North American tr ials. However these events were the main reason for premature terminat ion of treatment. In this trial, the haematological profile was safe. This propective trial confirms the efficacy of ticlopidine in the prev ention of thrombotic events in patients with peripheral arterial disea se.