title: The prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium prevents development of arterial stiffness in elderly patients with cerebral infarction.
abstract: Prostacyclin (PGI(2)) inhibits platelet aggregation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and vasoconstriction. Arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) predicts mortality in various cardiovascular diseases. To study the preventive effects of a prostacyclin analogue, beraprost sodium, on arterial PWV values in elderly patients with cerebral infarction. Forty-four patients with a history of cerebral infarction received beraprost sodium (120 microg/day p.o.) or no beraprost sodium (control) for 3 months. Arterial PWV and ankle brachial indices (ABI) were determined prior to starting the medication and after 3 months of medication. Initially, there were no differences in age, blood pressure, and body mass index. Further, PWV or ABI did not differ between the beraprost sodium group (n = 22) and the control group (n = 22). After 3 months, PWV in beraprost sodium group was significantly reduced (-123 +/- 282) when compared with the control group (147 +/- 274)(P = 0.006). ABI was not significantly different when comparing the two groups at 3 months. Long-term administration of beraprost sodium prevents the decline in arterial biomechanics in elderly patients with cerebral infarction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Receptor Biology, Advanced Medical Research Center, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Ooyaguchi-kamimachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan. tnakayam@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hironaga
authors.forename: Hatsue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masubuchi
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kokubun
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: C048081:beraprost; D011464:Epoprostenol