Dose-dependent of the restenosis rate of stents in peripheral vessels by reviparin.

Purpose: In clinical prospective trials, we examined the effect of the low molecular weight heparin(lmwh) reviparin on restenosis rate after Strecker stent implantation in,femoral popliteal arteries. Materials and Methods: 62 patients were treated between 1992 and 1998. Patients received reviparin, 3500 IU, prior to stent implantation followed by 7500 IU for 24 h (i.v.) an d 2 x 1750 IU/day s.c. over three weeks (n = 12) or 10500 IU for 24 h (i.v. ) and 2 x 3500 IU/day s.c. over 31/2 weeks (n = 50). Follow-up parameters w ere clinical symptoms, ankle-brachial index, color Doppler flow duplex sono graphy, and DSA. Results: Three thrombotic occlusions and three stenoses we re observed in the low-dose group. Raising the dose resulted in neither thr ombotic nor other events within the first three months. Seven stenoses occu rred afterwards up to the 7th month. The complication rate was low: one mod erate hematoma and one puncture aneurysm. Primary patency rate was 88% and 80% for one and two years, respectively.. This is significantly better than the primary patency rates for patients receiving low-dose lmwh (p <0.005) or unfractionated heparin (p <0.05). Conclusions: Hence, high-dose administ ration of the lmwh reviparin lowers the restenosis rate after stent implant ation in femoropopliteal arteries.