PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY INCREASES THROMBOXANE A(2) PRODUCTION IN CLAUDICANTS

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is an acute, local stimulus to p latelets which activation is regarded as an important factor for a lat er restenosis. The balance between the production of prostacyclin and thromboxane A, is of (patho)physiological importance due to their oppo site actions on vascular tone and platelet reactivity. In this study w e investigated the influence of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the peripheral arteries on prostacyclin and thromboxane A, producti ons in vivo by measuring the excretions of their urinary index metabol ites, 2,3-dinor-6-ketoprostaglandin F-1 alpha and 11-dehydrothromboxan e B-2, respectively, in 10 patients. We found a twofold increase in th romboxane A(2), but no significant change in prostacyclin, production after peripheral transluminal angioplasty which shifted prostacyclin/t hromboxane A(2) balance to the direction of thromboxane A(2) formation . This gives theoretical support to the use of thromboxane A(2) syntha se inhibitors and receptor antagonists as well as prostacyclin analogu es in combination with peripheral percutaneous transluminal angioplast y to prevent thrombosis and restenosis.