In a poster session presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 54th Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, Emory researchers say the answer to both questions is "yes".
The scientists analyzed data from the Cilostazol for RESTenosis (CREST) Trial, a randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of cilostazol to prevent restenosis after PCI. Earlier results from CREST showed a 35% relative risk reduction in restenosis from 34% to 22% with cilostazol. The anti-thrombotic drugs Clopidogrel (75 mg daily for 30 days) and aspirin daily for 6 months were administered to all patients in the CREST trial while a total of 705 of these patients were randomized to cilostazol (354) or placebo (351) following successful angioplasty and stent implantation.
Twenty-nine patients experienced bleeding complications (17 major and 12 minor) but there was no significant difference in the rate of bleeding for patients who received aspirin plus clopidogrel plus cilostazol versus those who received aspirin plus clopidogrel. There was also no significant difference in type of bleeding (major or minor) experienced by these patients, no matter which drug therapy they were given.
"There was no evidence of increased risk of bleeding in patients treated with aspirin plus clopidogrel plus cilostazol and we also found that adherence to treatment was high," says Emory Heart Center cardiologist William Weintraub, MD, Director of the Emory Center for Outcomes Research, who participated in the study. "This is good news because all three anti-platelet medications work in somewhat different ways and in combination they may prove to have more efficacy."
In addition to Dr. Weintraub, the Emory research team included Jovonne K. Foster MS, Paul Kolm PhD, Grant T. Anderson, Karen M. Parker BS, John S. Douglas Jr. MD and Nancy VC Murrah RN,BSN. Drs. Douglas and Weintraub disclosed a commercial relationship with Otsuka American Pharmaceutical, Inc.
The Emory Heart Center is comprised of all cardiac services and research at Emory University Hospital, the Carlyle Fraser Heart Center of Emory Crawford Long Hospital, the Andreas Gruentzig Cardiovascular Center of Emory University and The Emory Clinic. Ranked among the nation's top ten heart centers by U.S. News & World Report's annual survey, the Emory Heart Center has a rich history of excellence in all areas of cardiology and cardiac surgery --including education, research and patient care. It is internationally recognized as one of the birthplaces of modern interventional cardiology and was the site of the first coronary stent implantation in the United States, the only single site randomized comparison of angioplasty and bypass surgery, and pioneering work in vascular brachytherapy.