Jiang Z, et al. - Researchers peformed this retrospective, single-center study including 203 ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), to ascertain the relationship between inflammation severity and the effect of antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel vs ticagrelor) following PCI for STEMI. Observations revealed more potent platelet inhibition with ticagrelor at different inflammation levels, than with clopidogrel, suggesting that ticagrelor might exert a more stable antiplatelet effect at higher levels of systemic inflammation. In addition, reduced indices of inflammation on follow-up after PCI were noted in association with ticagrelor. This suggests a possible role of anti-inflammatory effects in the clinical benefit observed with antiplatelet therapy, which would provide an additional rationale for using ticagrelor in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.