The effects of clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate on intimal hyperplasia following vascular injury.

BACKGROUND

Neo-intimal hyperplasia is one of the most common causes of failure of arterial patency following cardiovascular interventions. It has been proposed that clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate may play an important role in the amelioration of intimal hyperplasia. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of these agents on intimal hyperplasia occurring after experimental balloon catheter injury.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups. Endothelial injury was caused by introducing a 2.5 x 20 mm balloon angioplasty-catheter into the left iliac artery. After the procedure, clopidogrel (25 mg/kg/day/orally) or calcium dobesilate (100 mg/kg/day/orally) were given for 2 weeks. Eight rabbits were given a placebo and served as controls. The contralateral non-injured iliac arteries of the control group were considered as normal iliac artery samples. Iliac artery specimens were examined planimetrically and the intima/media ratio was obtained for each vessel.

RESULTS

In the control group, the intima/media ratio was still significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the contralateral normal artery 14 days after the balloon catheter injury. In the clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate groups, this ratio had significantly decreased when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found when the clopidogrel and calcium dobesilate groups were compared.

CONCLUSION

The anti-agregant agent clopidogrel, and the venous endothelial regulator calcium dobesilate, ameliorate intimal hyperplasia after experimentally induced vascular injury in rabbit iliac arteries.