BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR IN A PORCINE MODEL OF CHRONIC MYOCARDIAL-ISCHEMIA - A COMPARISON OF ANGIOGRAPHIC, ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC AND CORONARY FLOW PARAMETERS

Recently, a number of growth factors including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have been shown to promote angiogenesis in vivo. In thi s study, we evaluated dose-dependent effect of bFGF administration in the setting of chronic myocardial ischemia. A total of 18 Yorkshire pi gs subjected to ameroid occluder placement on the left circumflex arte ry were randomized to treatment with 10 (n = 6) or 100 mu g (n = 5) of bFGF incorporated into heparin-alginate microspheres or inactive cont rol pellets (n = 7). Eight weeks later, all animals underwent angiogra phic evaluation of collateral development as well as studies of corona ry flow and global and regional left ventricular function. Both bFGF g roups had significantly higher angiographic collateral index, TIMI flo w scores and coronary flow in the ameroid-compromised territory compar ed with controls. Left ventricular function studies demonstrated impro ved global and regional function in both fibroblast growth factor grou ps with significantly better preservation of regional wall motion in h igh dose (100 mu g) bFGF animals. We conclude that local perivascular delivery of bFGF results in significant improvement in myocardial func tion in the setting of chronic myocardial ischemia.