INHIBITION OF RESTENOSIS BY BERAPROST SODIUM (A PROSTAGLANDIN I-2 ANALOG) IN THE ATHEROSCLEROTIC RABBIT ARTERY AFTER ANGIOPLASTY

We examined the effect of beraprost sodium (BPS), a stable prostaglandin I-2 (PGI(2)) analogue, on restenosis after balloon angioplasty in the atherosclerotic artery in rabbits. Regional atherosclerosis was induced in the femoral artery of New Zealand white rabbits by balloon deendothelialization and 2% cholesterol diet. After establishment of atheroma in the femoral artery, angioplasty was performed. In all, 65 rabbits were assigned to the following six subcutaneous drug treatment groups: control group (n = 13, saline 0.25 ml/kg); BPS low-dose group (n = 11, BPS 50 mu g/kg twice daily); BPS high-dose group (n = 12, BPS 100 mu g/kg twice daily); 2-day BPS high-dose group (n = 11, BPS 100 mu g/kg twice daily for 2 days after angioplasty); aspirin (ASA) group (n = 10, ASA 30 mg once daily); and BPS + ASA group (n = 8, BPS 50 mu g/kg twice daily plus ASA 30 mg once daily). Administration of each drug was started 30 min before balloon angioplasty and was continued until 4 weeks thereafter, except in the 2-day BPS high-dose group. Reexamination 4 weeks after the angioplasty showed significant (p < 0.05) preservation of the luminal diameter in the BPS high-dose and 2-day BPS high-dose groups (1.30 +/- 0.15 and 1.25 +/- 0.09 mm, respectively) as compared with that in the control group (0.83 +/- 0.10 mm); however, the luminal diameter in the BPS low-dose, ASA, and BPS + ASA groups (0.94 +/- 0.18, 1.06 +/- O.11, and 1.05 +/- 0.15 mm, respectively) was not significantly different from that in the control group.