In vivo evaluation of lumbrokinase, a fibrinolytic enzyme extracted from Lumbricus rubellus, in a prosthetic vascular graft.
BACKGROUND
Lumbrokinase (LK) is a fibrinolytic enzyme purified from the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. To investigate the fibrinolytic and antithrombotic effects of lumbrokinase, a series of animal experiments were performed.


METHODS
The Dacron graft (3 mm in diameter, 3 cm in length) were treated with LK via two different methods, simple dipping and covalent bonding


METHODS
Covalent bonding was performed by UV reaction to polyacrylic acid. The grafts were interposed into the inferior vena cava of the rabbits and harvested for 5 hours, 1, 2 and 4 weeks after the implantation.


RESULTS
The LK non-treated graft (n=4) were totally occluded with thrombus 5 hours after the implantation. Both types of LK treated graft (n=8) were patent 1 week after the implantation. The grafts treated with the simple dipping method (n=4) were occluded with thrombus 2 weeks after the implantation. The grafts treated with covalent bonding (n=4) were patent 4 weeks after the implantation. Ultrastructural analysis of the luminal surface of the patent grafts by scanning electron microscopy revealed the thin plasma protein layer to be about 5 micro in thickness with platelet adhesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Lumbrokinase has potential antithrombotic effects in a small diameter vascular prosthesis. The covalent bonding method proved to be more effective than the simple dipping method.
Hwang
C-M
CM
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
D-I
DI
Huh
S-H
SH
Min
B-G
BG
Park
J-H
JH
Han
J-S
JS
Lee
B-B
BB
Kim
Y-I
YI
Ryu
E-S
ES
Kim
J-W
JW
D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D010450:Endopeptidases; C083421:lumbrokinase