Abstract
Restenosis is an important complication after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), but little is known about which antiplatelet drugs are suitable for prevention of restenosis. We investigated the occurrence of restenosis and the effect of cilostazol on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) of the ipsilateral carotid artery after CEA. From January 2001 to December 2008, CEA was performed on 333 vessels in our hospital. At 30 days, the mortality and morbidity rate was 0.9%, respectively. Restenosis and occlusion occurred in 29 vessels (8.7%) during follow-up period (in 26 vessels during the first year after CEA). Carotid IMT was evaluated after CEA using duplex ultrasonography. Carotid max IMT showed a greater increase in the aspirin treatment group (n = 39) than in the cilostazol treatment with aspirin (n = 17). Especially, in subjects with type 2 diabetes, carotid max IMT showed a significantly greater increase in the aspirin group (n = 14) than in the cilostazol with aspirin group (n = 9). These results indicate that cilostazol therapy with aspirin can attenuate the increase of carotid artery IMT after CEA.
