Role of probucol in inhibiting intimal hyperplasia after coronary stent implantation: a randomized study.

Background: Oxygen-free radicals can stimulate smooth muscle cell proliferation and may therefore be involved in the genesis of in-stent restenosis. Thus, treatment with probucol, a potent antioxidant agent that has been shown to reduce restenosis after balloon angioplasty, may be an effective strategy to prevent intimal hyperplasia after stenting.

Methods: In a prospective double-blind study, 59 patients submitted to coronary stent implantation were randomly assigned to treatment with either probucol (1 g/d) or placebo, starting two weeks before the procedure and continued for 6 months.