Low Daily Dose of Antioxidant Probucol Decreases Incidence and Severity of Restenosis after Transluminal Coronary Balloon Angioplasty

Antioxidant probucol in both high (1000 mg) and low (250 mg) daily doses effectively reduced manifestations of oxidative stress in patients with atherosclerosis (assessed by in vivo accumulation of lipoperoxides in atherogenic LDL). When probucol was administered in a dose of 250 mg/day for 7–10 days before transluminal balloon coronary angioplasty and then for 6 months after surgery, the incidence of restenosis decreased to 25% compared to 45% in the control (without probucol therapy). In the group of operated patients receiving probucol (250 mg/day for 6 months) the minimal artery lumen was significantly higher, and the degree of artery occlusion significantly lower than in the control group not treated with probucol.