Effects of adenosine on thrombosis and thrombolysis in a canine experimental preparation

Intracoronary infusion of adenosine is reported to inhibit cyclic flow vari ations after coronary artery injury and stenosis. This study was performed in the anesthetized dog to determine if adenosine prevents arterial thrombo sis and/or reocclusion after thrombolysis. Carotid and coronary arteries we re instrumented with Doppler (TM) flow probes, a critical stenosis, infusio n line and an anodal electrode. Two protocols were employed. In the thrombo sis protocol, intracarotid infusion of adenosine (20 mug/kg/min for 3 h) di d not alter cyclic flow variations or patency during induction of vessel wa ll injury. In the second protocol, occlusive arterial thrombi were induced by anodal current injury and lysed with local application of tissue plasmin ogen activator. Whereas adenosine prolonged the time to arterial occlusion, it did not affect cyclic flow variations or time to reocclusion after thro mbolysis. Copyright (C) 2001 S, Karger AG, Basel.