Ticlopidine may prevent subtotal or total occlusion of dilated lesions after percutaneous coronary angioplasty

Abstract The efficacy of ticlopidine and probucol plus oryzanol for reducing restenosis after dilation was examined in 151 patients with 229 stenotic lesions treated by coronary angioplasty after complete resolution of associated acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and variant angina. The stenotic lesions were 90% or less in diameter and less than 10 mm in length, and residual stenosis was 40% or less after treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to receive no medication, ticlopidine (200 mg daily) and/or probucol (1,000 mg daily) plus oryzanol (300 mg daily). One hundred forty-six patients with 220 dilated lesions were examined angiographically to evaluate restenosis. The medications achieved no clear reduction in restenosis, but subtotal or total reocclusion occurred in 6 of 102 patients not receiving ticlopidine, and in none of 118 patients receiving ticlopidine (p < 0.008). Ticlopidine may prevent subtotal or total reocclusion in dilated lesions.