ENHANCED ANGIOGENESIS AND UNFAVORABLE REMODELING IN INJURED PORCINE CORONARY-ARTERY LESIONS - EFFECTS OF LOCAL BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR DELIVERY

There is interest in the role of growth factors in the genesis of arte rial remodeling. We studied local administration of basic fibroblast g rowth factor (bFGF) to coronary lesions to determine whether there is a difference in remodeling and whether neovascularization could be ind uced in such stenoses and distal myocardium. Pigs were randomized to b alloon infusion of either saline or bFGF at each thermally injured art erial site. After the animals were killed, their internal elastic lami na, neointima, and lumen areas were measured. Capillaries were counted in the arteries and myocardium. There was a greater loss of lumen and internal elastic lamina in the bFGF group. The neointima, media, and myocardium in the bFGF treated arteries had statistically more capilla ries. This study showed that local intracoronary bFGF, at a dose that results in arterial luminal revascularization in injured segments, adv ersely affects arterial remodeling. Thus, the angiogenic response to e xogenous bFGF may be offset by concomitant shrinkage of injured arteri al segments.