EFFECT OF PENTOSAN POLYSULPHATE IN MINIPIGS WITH EXPERIMENTAL PULMONARY EMBOLI

In anaesthetized minipigs emboli were induced by reinjection of electrically activated autologous blood. The animals were then infused with either saline or pentosan polysulphate (SP 54) for three hours; 2 mg SP 54/kg body weight injected as bolus followed by intravenous infusion of 1 mg SP 54/kg body weight per hour. Before and during infusion of SP 54 or saline, we determined haemodynamics, degree of pulmonary arterial occlusion, blood gases and plasminogen activator levels. As a result of treatment with SP 54 a decrease in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, an increase in blood flow of pulmonary artery, and an increase in plasminogen activator activity was seen, compared with control animals who received saline infusion only. The efficacy of SP 54 treatment was demonstrated by a mean haemodynamlc and blood flow improvement of about 50 %, three hours after starting the experiment.