Kengreal

Kengreal (cangrelor) is used to stop blood clots from forming. It's used in the hospital for adults undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, a procedure to open clogged blood vessels) who aren't given certain other types of antiplatelet medications. It's also used off label for people who will undergo heart surgery and are required to stop taking their antiplatelet medication by mouth (e.g., clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), Brilinta (ticagrelor)). Stopping the oral antiplatelet medication a couple days before surgery is important to give time for its long-lasting, blood-thinning effect to go away to prevent major bleeding at the surgical site. Since Kengreal (cangrelor) doesn't stay in the body for very long, it helps lower the risk for blood clots and its consequences (e.g., stroke) while they're waiting for surgery.

Kengreal (cangrelor) is an antiplatelet. Platelets are blood cells that form clots to help stop any bleeding. But clots can be dangerous if they form in your blood vessels since they can block bloodflow, which can lead to a heart attack and other complications. By preventing your platelets from clumping together in your blood, Kengreal (cangrelor) prevents blood clots from forming. This can help lower your risk for heart attack and clot formation in a stent during PCI.

Kengreal (cangrelor) is given as an injection through the veins (intravenous or IV). This is done by a trained healthcare provider who will make sure you get this medication at the correct dose and time. In general, the dose for PCI is 30 mcg/kg of body weight given as a single, quick injection into the veins to get your blood levels of Kengreal (cangrelor) high in a short amount of time (loading dose). Then, it's given as a 4 mcg/kg per minute continuous IV infusion for at least 2 hours or for the entire PCI procedure, whichever is longer. The dose for bridging to heart surgery is typically a lower-dose (0.75 mcg/kg per minute), continuous IV infusion until your heart surgery is complete and you can take antiplatelet medications by mouth again.

It depends on which oral antiplatelet medication your provider has instructed you to start taking. If your provider prescribed Brilinta (ticagrelor), you can start taking it any time during the Kengreal (cangrelor) infusion or right after the infusion. If your provider prescribed either clopidogrel (Plavix) or prasugrel (Effient), you can start taking it immediately after your Kengreal (cangrelor) infusion ends.