Preventive effects of an antiallergic drug, pemirolast potassium, on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
BACKGROUND
We recently confirmed that pemirolast potassium, an antiallergic agent, markedly inhibits migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. It has also been reported that pemirolast inhibits intimal hyperplasia in animal experiments.


RESULTS
To elucidate the preventive effects of pemirolast on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), 227 patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized trial. A total of 205 patients who were compatible with the protocol were analyzed (pemirolast group, 104 patients with 140 lesions; control group, 101 patients with 133 lesions). Patients in the pemirolast group received 20 mg/d of pemirolast from 1 week before PTCA until the time of follow-up angiography (4 months after PTCA). Angiographic restenosis was defined as diameter stenosis >/=50% at follow-up. Restenosis rates were significantly lower in the pemirolast group than in the control group (24.0% vs 46.5% of patients, 18.6% vs 35.3% of lesions, P <.01, respectively). During 8 months of follow-up, there were no coronary events (death, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, or repeated PTCA) in 81.7% of the pemirolast group and in 63.4% of the control group (P =.013).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that pemirolast would be useful in the clinical setting to prevent restenosis after PTCA.
Ohsawa
H
H
Cardiovascular Center and the Department of Internal Medicine, Sakura Hospital, Toho University School of Medicine, Sakura, Japan.
Noike
H
H
Kanai
M
M
Yoshinuma
M
M
Mineoka
K
K
Hitsumoto
T
T
Aoyagi
K
K
Sakurai
T
T
Sato
S
S
Uchi
T
T
Kawamura
K
K
Tokuhiro
K
K
Uchida
Y
Y
Tomioka
H
H
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D002455:Cell Division; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D011725:Pyridines; D011744:Pyrimidinones; C055139:pemirolast