The Potential of Cilostazol in Interventional Cardiology.
Cilostazol, an antiplatelet agent developed in Japan, has been demonstrated to have the potential to reduce restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Unlike conventional antiplatelet agents, cilostazol has several favorable properties in reducing restenosis. Besides the vasodilatory effect, cilostazol directly inhibits smooth muscle proliferation and may enhance reendothelialization after PTCA. Although the magnitude of prevention of restenosis may differ with the PTCA device used, cilostazol appears quite promising as a pharmacologic treatment adjunct to PTCA.
Tsuchikane
E
Department of Cardiology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-3, Nakamichi, Higashinari, Osaka-City, Osaka 537-1181, Japan. oscmed1@skyblue.ocn.ne.jp
Kobayashi
T
Awata
N