Antithrombotic effect of FK506 vs cyclosporine in cardiac transplant recipients: potential implications in transplant arteriopathy.
BACKGROUND
An activated coagulation system has been implicated as a potential initiating or inciting factor in the development and progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV).


METHODS
By performing ex vivo perfusion studies of blood thrombogenicity under constant rheologic conditions and with a constant substrate, we sought to determine the relative effects on the coagulation system of FK506 vs cyclosporine in patients who have undergone cardiac transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with cyclosporine, FK506 significantly decreased the propensity to form thrombus; this suggests that FK506 may have a favorable impact on the development of CAV.
Freudenberger
R
R
Division of Cardiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21231, USA. rfreuden@medicine.umaryland.edu
Alexis
J
J
Gass
A
A
Fuster
V
V
Badimon
J
J
D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus