ANGIOGENIC THERAPY OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION BY INTRAPERICARDIALINJECTION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR AND HEPARIN SULFATE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

To examine whether angiogenesis and myocardial salvage occur, 30 mu g basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 3 mg heparin sulfate (HS) we re injected through the right atrium into the pericardial cavity by a thin needle-tipped catheter in a canine model of acute myocardial infa rction. One month later infarcted weight/left ventricle weight was 24% +/- 5.2%, 25% +/- 4.0%, 18% +/- 2.4%, and 10% +/- 1.8% (mean + SE) in saline solution, HS, bFGF alone, and bFGF plus HS groups, respectivel y. Vascular number in the infarcted area of the outer layer was 13 +/- 3.3, 20 +/- 2.2, 47 +/- 8.3, and 136 +/- 26.3/200 x 200 mu m(2) in sa line solution, HS, bFGF alone, and bFGF plus HS groups, respectively. Thus the vascular number was the largest in the bFGF plus HS group. Th e vascular number was larger in the subepicardial than in the subendoc ardial infarcted areas. Vessels directed from the epicardium toward th e subepicardial infarcted area were also observed. The transcatheter i ntrapericardial injection of bFGF plus HS caused angiogenesis and myoc ardial salvage. This method might bring about a selective therapeutic and preventive modality of myocardial infarction irrespective of coron ary anatomy and contraindications for coronary interventions and surge ry.