The Effects of Bindarit in Preventing Stent Restenosis

Coronary artery disease is caused by the gradual build-up of fatty deposits in coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). A diminished blood flow may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath or other symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack. Angioplasty and stenting techniques are safe and effective procedures performed to unblock coronary arteries. However, a recurrent problem after angioplasty is the occurrence of a new blockage, usually within 6 to 9 months after the initial procedure. This phenomenon, called "restenosis", is a body's response to the injury of the angioplasty and does not mean a progression of coronary artery disease.The pathophysiology of restenosis is complex and has as yet not been fully clarified.

Serial studies have shown that in-stent restenosis is almost exclusively caused by neointimal hyperplasia and tissue proliferation occurring in site or adjacent to the stent sites. Histological studies confirmed that neointimal hyperplasia post-stent implantation is related to vessel injury during the procedure. Chemokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular injury. In this context, MCP-1 which shows a potent chemotactic action on monocytes, can amplify the inflammatory response through the recruitment of additional monocytes. In addition, MCP-3 is known to share some key biological features with MCP-1. It has been proved that MCP-1 directly induces human vascular smooth muscle proliferation acting at this level as a potent mitogen, and that anti-MCP-1 gene therapy inhibits restenotic changes (neointimal hyperplasia) in animals after balloon injury.

An evidence of a critical increase in circulating MCP-1 after coronary angioplasty was reported. It was more evident and prolonged in patients with restenosis rather than in non-restenotic patients, in which only a transient increases in plasma MCP-1 has been demonstrated.

Since these chemokines showed to play a main role in the appearance and worsening of the restenosis process, a selective inhibitor of MCP-1 and other members of monocyte chemotactic protein subfamily of CC inflammatory chemokines (MCP-3/CCL7, MCP-2/CCL8), such as bindarit, may have a potential therapeutic use in preventing restenosis by inhibiting the VSMC proliferation, and without affecting the important process of re-endothelization.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients with no limitation of race, > 18 years of age (or minimum age as required by local regulations). Female patients of childbearing potential, required to have a negative pregnancy test and use a birth control method. Oral contraceptive are not allowed.
• Diagnosis of angina pectoris as defined by Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification (CCS I,II, III, IV) OR unstable angina pectoris (Braunwald Classification B&C, I-II-III), or patients with documented silent ischemia.
• Maximum of two de novo lesions (>70% stenosis) per patients, to be treated with no other planned procedure within six months from the index intervention.
• Each lesion should require a single stent not longer than 28 mm and with a diameter of 2.5 mm or larger. In case additional stents are needed, the operator will be allowed to implant them in order to treat a suboptimal result such as residual edge stenosis or dissection. Additional stents should be implanted with minimal overlap. Multiple stenting should not be allowed as intention to treat strategy due to the specific inclusion criteria which has been set.
• Patients eligible for the placement of the Vision (Abbott) bare metal stent.
• The patient willing and able to cooperate with the protocol procedures, particularly attending the scheduled visits.
• Patients legally able to give written informed consent to the trial.
• A written informed consent to the trial signed and dated by the patient is available.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with hypersensitivity or allergies to aspirin, heparin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, drugs such the study medication, or any other analogue or derivative, cobalt, chromium, nickel, molybdenum or contrast media, or with a positive history for drug allergy.
• Lesions in venous or arterial grafts.
• Total occlusions.
• In-stent restenosis.
• Unprotected Left Main lesions.
• Acute myocardial infarction (ST elevation and/or Non ST Elevation) in the 48 hours prior to the procedure.
• Women with known pregnancy or who are lactating.
• Patients in whom anti-platelet and/or anticoagulation therapy is contraindicated.
• Current medical condition with a life expectancy of less than 24 months.
• The subject is participating in another device or drug study. Subject must have completed the follow-up phase of any previous study at least 30 days prior to enrolment in this trial.
• Patients under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
• Patients with medical conditions that preclude the follow-up as defined in the protocol or that otherwise limits participation in this registry.

m. Potassium value above the upper limit normal range.