Therapy with Folate and Vitamins B₁₂ and B₆ After Coronary Angioplasty

Results from a recently published Swiss study showed that homocysteine-lowering therapy reduced the 6-month incidence of restenosis in patients who underwent coronary angioplasty (Journal Watch Dec 4 2001). Now, the same investigators report results that include more patients and longer follow-up.

A total of 553 patients underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty; about half the lesions also were stented. Patients then were randomized to receive 6-month daily courses of homocysteine-lowering therapy (1 mg folic acid, 400 µg vitamin B₁₂, and 10 mg vitamin B₆) or placebo. At 1 year, a composite endpoint (including revascularization, myocardial infarction, and death) occurred significantly less often with active treatment than with placebo (15…