The role of dipyridamole in addition to low dose aspirin in the prevention of occlusion of coronary artery bypass grafts

One hundred and one subjects were randomised to receive either aspirin 100 mg or aspirin 100 mg + dipyridamole 300 mg daily before undergoing coronary bypass surgery. The drugs were commenced at least 36 hours before operation and patients were followed for one year. There were three perioperative deaths and 37 withdrawals, of which 14 were drug related (aspirin four, aspirin + dipyridamole ten). Cineangiocardiograms at nine weeks and one year showed vein graft patency rates of 93% and 87% for subjects treated with aspirin alone; and 90% and 89% in those who received aspirin+dipyridamole. During the follow-up period 14% of 232 coronary lesions in the aspirin treated group advanced by more than two grades compared with 15% of 315 lesions in the aspirin+dipyridamole group. The study did not establish superiority of one regimen over another in terms of graft patency or progress of lesions in native vessels. However, low dose aspirin was better tolerated than combination therapy.