Article Text
Abstract
Background and Purpose Restenosis after carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a postoperative problem, with a reported frequency around 2%–8%. However differences in stent design, procedure, and the antiplatelet agent appear affect the incidence of restenosis. We assessed the frequency of restenosis and the effect of the antiplatelet agent cilostazol (CLZ) in preventing restenosis after CAS by the standard procedure using the Carotid Wallstent (CWS).
Materials and Methods Between May 2010 and October 2011, 62 lesions in 60 consecutive patients of CAS using the CWS were performed and all patients were followed clinically and assessed by ultrasonography, 3D-CTA or angiography at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Restenosis was defined as ≥50% stenosis, The incidences of restenosis and differences in the incidence of restenosis by the difference in type of antiplatelet agent between the CLZ group (n=30; aspirin 100 mg and CLZ 200 mg) and the non-CLZ group (n=32; aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg (n=29) or ticlopidine 100 mg (n=2), 200 mg (n=1)) were retrospectively investigated. Two antiplatelet agents were given starting 1 week preoperatively until at least 3 months postoperatively.
Results Restenosis occurred in five patients (8.3%), but all were cases of asymptomatic lesions in the follow-up period. All five patients of restenosis were in the non-CLZ group, with no cases of restenosis in the CLZ group; the difference was significant (p=0.0239).
Conclusion The restenosis rate after CAS using CWS was 8.3%. CLZ was associated with significant inhibition of restenosis.
Competing interests None.