ANGIOPEPTIN INHIBITS INTIMAL HYPERPLASIA AFTER ANGIOPLASTY IN PORCINE CORONARY-ARTERIES

Background. Restenosis is mediated by uncontrolled neointimal growth at the site of coronary angioplasty. Angiopeptin is an octapeptide analogue of somatostatin that has been shown to decrease the experimental intimal hyperplasia associated with vascular injury in rats and rabbits. The study purpose was to determine if angiopeptin inhibits the development of intimal hyperplasia in normolipemic swine coronary arteries after overstretch-balloon injury. Methods and Results. Overstretch-balloon injury was performed in normolipemic swine coronary arteries using a 3.5-mm angioplasty balloon. Treated animals received angiopeptin (50 mug/kg) 1 hour before and at the time of balloon injury. Angiopeptin was administered at 100 (mug/kg)/day SQ in two divided doses for 14 days. Animals were killed at 14 and 28 days (2 weeks after cessation of angiopeptin) after balloon injury. Treatment animals were compared with control animals receiving balloon injury alone. Angiopeptin significantly limited the experimental intimal hyperplasia estimated by the maximal intimal thickness and residual lumen (lumen area/lumen area+intimal area) compared with controls. Conclusions. Angiopeptin inhibits the development of intimal hyperplasia in swine coronary arteries after balloon injury. The beneficial effect was detectable 2 weeks after cessation of angiopeptin therapy.