Summary
Background
Efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is limited by restenosis occurring
in a large proportion of patients. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration is a major pathomechanism
of restenosis. We studied SMC migration inducing activity of plasma from patients
with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) undergoing PTA.
Methods and Results
SMC migration was determined in a two-dimensional assay system after addition of 1/25
plasma dilutions. Mean increase in migration area was 65.5 ± 33.8% in normal controls
and 67.7 ± 53.2% in patients with PAOD. 6 hours after PTA, plasmatic migration inducing
activity was largely unchanged. In 19/30 patients with restenosis (6 months after
PTA) migration promoting activity (82.7 ± 60.0) was significantly higher than in 11/30
patients with patent vessels (41.8 ± 21.0; p = 0.03). No correlation of clinical risk
factors with outcome was observed. A weak correlation was found between plasmatic
migration promoting activity and levels of epidermal growth factor and transforming
growth factor-β.
Conclusion
The capacity of human plasma to stimulate SMC migration in tissue culture can be used
to assess the risk for restenosis after PTA in patients with PAOD.
Key words
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease - angioplasty - restenosis - smooth muscle cells
- growth factors