title: Argatroban for preventing occlusion and restenosis after extracranial artery stenting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Restenosis following extracranial artery stenting is a limitation that affects long-term outcomes. Effective and satisfying pharmacological strategies in preventing restenosis have not been established. This study aimed to evaluate whether argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, could reduce the risk of in-stent restenosis after extracranial artery stenting.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourteen patients hospitalized between August 2010 and August 2011 were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to argatroban (n = 58) and blank control groups (n = 56). The patients in the argatroban arm were treated with 10 mg of intravenous argatroban twice daily 2 days before and 3 days after the stenting procedures. Patients were followed for 12 months after the procedure. During follow-up, restenosis and target revascularization were analyzed. Recurrent cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events and deaths were also compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient in the stenting group withdrew immediately after the procedure due to unsuccessful stenting. Restenosis occurred in 4 patients (7.4%) in the argatroban group and in 11 patients (21.6%) in the control group during the 6- to 9-month angiographic follow-up period (p = 0.032). Nine months after the procedures, argatroban-treated patients had a trend towards a lower incidence of target revascularization compared with the controls (5.4 vs. 13.7%, p = 0.188). No major bleeding events or other adverse events occurred in the argatroban group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot clinical trial is the first that uses argatroban to prevent restenosis in ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and suggests that intravenous administration of argatroban is effective and safe in preventing restenosis after extracranial artery stenting. Larger randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology at Jinling Hospital, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Dezhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wusheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yongkun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yunyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Zhaoyao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qizhang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiankun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Zhaolu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaomeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenshan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Minmin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Gelin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xinfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D017130:Angioplasty; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015607:Stents; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000991:Antithrombins; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D013449:Sulfonamides; D001120:Arginine; C031942:argatroban