PITTSBURGH, Nov. 12 -- According to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), a thin polymer coating on the inside of coronary arteries may one day prevent blood clot formation called acute thrombosis, following angioplasty.
"Our study found that the formation of a barrier one molecule thick to prevent platelets from coming in contact with the injured vessel wall cells may lead to a novel and effective treatment of acute thrombosis following angioplasty," said J.E.B. Burchenal, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiology and principal investigator in the study.
The findings will be presented Nov. 12 at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Fla.
Acute thrombosis occurs in five percent of patients who undergo angioplasty and can lead to heart attack. This condition also may necessitate repeat coronary intervention or bypass surgery.
The study attempted to determine if the polymer, polyethylene glycol diisocyanate, could protect the damaged vascular wall from platelets in the blood long enough for the inside of the artery to heal and prevent the acute thrombosis process from beginning.
"This technique is unique because we are chemically attaching small polymer chains right onto the damaged tissue. The chains cover the sites the platelets attach to when a clot forms," said William Wagner, Ph.D., assistant professor of surgery and chemical engineering and study co-investigator.
Dr. Wagner developed the technique with Eric J. Beckman, Ph.D., and Alan J. Russell, Ph.D., both professors of chemical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh; and Christopher R. Deible, B.S., of Pitt's department of bioengineering.
Research was done at the UPMC's McGowan Center for Artificial Organ Development in collaboration with Dr. Burchenal.
Using animal models, the researchers performed angioplasty on femoral arteries. One set of arteries was then randomly treated with the polymer while another set was treated with a control solution of saline. After the blood flow was restored for one hour, the arteries were removed and platelet accumulations in the vessels were measured.
"Platelet deposition onto arteries treated with the polymer was significantly lower when compared with platelet deposits in the control arteries," said Dr. Burchenal. "The treatment with the polymer solution significantly inhibited platelet deposition for at least one hour. This study supports the hypothesis that treatment with the polymer solution masks surface adhesive proteins from platelet receptors in vivo."
For additional information about the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, please access http://www.upmc.edu.
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