Pathogenesis and prevention of graft arteriosclerosis in an experimental heart transplant model.
Accelerated graft arteriosclerosis is a major cause of death in human heart transplantation. Despite many investigations, the pathogenesis of this disease remains undetermined and its control inadequate. In this study using a rat heart transplant model and cyclosporin A, a new immunosuppressant, acute rejection was prevented but arteriosclerotic-like vessel disease still developed consistently as early as 20 days postoperatively. The combination of cyclosporin A and dipyridamole prevented the development of this vessel disease in transplanted hearts at 20 and 50 days postoperatively. Sulfinpyrazone and cyclosporin A reduced but did not prevent the disease. These findings suggest that immunologically induced graft arteriosclerosis can be prevented in transplanted rat hearts by the combination of cyclosporin A and dipyridamole.
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003524:Cyclosporins; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000187:drug effects*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D013442:Sulfinpyrazone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D003524:Cyclosporins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D004176:Dipyridamole; D013442:Sulfinpyrazone