USE OF CILOSTAZOL, A NOVEL ANTIPLATELET AGENT, IN A POST-PALMAZ-SCHATZ STENTING REGIMEN

We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of cilostazol, a novel potent in hibitor of phosphodiesterase, for the prevention of stent thrombosis f ollowing implantation of a Palmaz-Schatz stent guided by angiographic visual estimation alone in 71 patients with 84 lesions. Patients recei ved 81 mg of aspirin 3 times daily and 100 mg of cilostazol twice dail y after angiographic confirmation of optimal Palmoz-Schatz stent impla ntation. Of the 84 vessels stented, 65 (77%) were classified as type 8 2 or C lesions according to the modified American Heart Association/Am erican College of Cardiology classification, and 51 (61%) were < 3.0 m m in diameter. Multiple stents were used in 26 patients (31%). The fin al balloon inflation pressure was 18.3 +/- 1.5 atm. The balloon-to-ves sel ratio was 1.18 +/- 0.16. No patient received heparin or warfarin a fter the procedure. There were no deaths, Q-wave myocardial infarction s, in- or out-of-hospital stent thrombosis, coronary bypass surgery, o r serious side effects such as neutropenia and/or liver dysfunction du ring the 1-month follow-up period. These results indicate that cilosta zol was a safe and effective antiplatelet agent with minimum-side effe cts after Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medic a, Inc.