Abciximab in Carotid Stenting for Postsurgical Carotid Restenosis: Intermediate Results

Purpose:To report intermediate results of a pilot study in which the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist abciximab was given to patients during percutaneous carotid stenting for recurrent internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. The objective was to prevent procedure-related cerebral embolic events and decrease the incidence of recurrent stenosis.Methods:Sixteen patients (9 women; mean age 66.5 years, range 39–78) with severe ICA recurrent stenosis (>80%) underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting. Before the procedure, abciximab was administered intravenously as a bolus (0.25 mg/kg) followed by a 12-hour continuous infusion (10 µg/min).Results:Fifteen patients received stents (14 Wallstent and 1 Strecker); 1 vessel was dilated with only 50% improvement in luminal diameter. Two stented arteries had residual stenosis (<30%) but satisfactory luminal diameter was achieved in the remaining 13 (81%) arteries. There were no neurological ischemic events during or following the procedure, nor were there any ...