Background: Sarpogrelate, a serotonin blocker, has been reported to inhibit the serotonin-induced proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sarpogrelate reduces restenosis after coronary stenting as a result of prevention of intimal hyperplasia.
Methods: We examined 79 patients with stable angina undergoing elective coronary stenting on de novo lesions of native coronary arteries in a prospective, randomized trial. All enrolled patients received aspirin and ticlopidine, and one third of the patients were assigned to receive oral sarpogrelate.
Results: Treatment with sarpogrelate in addition to aspirin and ticlopidine caused no major adverse cardiovascular events or hemorrhagic adverse effects during the 6-month follow-up period. The restenosis rate in the group of patients receiving sarpogrelate was 4.3%, which was significantly lower than the 28.6% rate found in the group of patients not receiving sarpogrelate.
Conclusions: Sarpogrelate treatment reduces restenosis after coronary stenting, which suggests that serotonin released from activated platelets may play an important role in stent restenosis.