Cilostazol reduces restenosis after carotid artery stenting

Although carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been proposed as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy in cerebral revascularization, restenosis remains an unsolved issue. Cilostazol is a unique antiplatelet drug that has vasodilatory effects and inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation. We investigated whether cilostazol reduces restenosis after CAS.

A database of 113 consecutive CAS procedures between April 2002 and December 2007 was assessed retrospectively. All patients received aspirin (100 mg/d) and another antiplatelet drug such as cilostazol (200 mg/d), ticlopidine (200 mg/d), or clopidogrel (75 mg/d) at least 3 days before CAS. Two antiplatelet drugs were continued for 2 to 3 months after CAS and reduced to one thereafter. Patients were evaluated at 3 and 6 months and at 6-month intervals thereafter with duplex ultrasound (DUS) imaging. Angiography was used for confirmation when stenosis was suspected as >50% with DUS imaging.

We were able to monitor 97 patients for a 12-month period. The overall combined rate of stroke, myocardial infarction, and death was 3.1% at 30 days and 4.1% at 1 year. In-stent recurrent stenosis was documented in 11 patients (11%); in 10 patients (9.7%), this occurred

Although this study was retrospective and nonrandomized, the results suggest that cilostazol administration improves long-term patency after CAS due to its inhibitory effect on smooth muscle cell growth.