Verapamil reduces intimal hyperplasia in a sheep carotid artery patch graft model.
BACKGROUND
The current study investigated the effect of verapamil on the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) using a sheep model.


METHODS
A gelatin-sealed Dacron patch graft was implanted into the left common carotid artery in 40 adult Merino sheep. Sheep were then randomly allocated to four groups. Group 1 were controls given no treatment (n = 10). Groups 2-4 were treated with intravenous verapamil 0.5 mg/kg per day in two divided doses for different lengths of time. Group 2 (n = 10) received treatment for 1 week; group 3 (n = 10) received treatment for 2 weeks and group 4 (n = 10) received treatment for 4 weeks. All sheep were killed at 4 weeks and the grafted segments of artery were harvested for IH assessment by an image analysis system.


RESULTS
The IH index from the three groups treated with verapamil was significantly less than that of the control (group 1,0.287+/-0.077: group 2,0.205+/-0.064, P<0.05; group 3, 0.193+/-0.059, P<0.01; group 4,0.171+/-0.046, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that verapamil inhibits the development of IH even when treatment is given for only 1 week.
Ao
P Y
PY
Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
Hawthorne
W J
WJ
Vicaretti
M
M
Fletcher
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D014700:Verapamil