Correlation between the effects of aspirin and dipyridamole on platelet function and prevention of intimal hyperplasia in autologous vein grafts

Abstract

Fifty-four adult mongrel dogs receiving a lipid-supplemented diet were used to determine the effects of aspirin and dipyridamole on vein graft intimal hyperplasia. Twenty-one animals received the diet alone, 17 animals received a combination of dipyridamole and aspirin, while a further 16 animals received dipyridamole. Segments of undistended external jugular vein were anastomosed to bilaterally-divided femoral arteries. The vein grafts were harvested at six weeks and intimal thickness was measured with a Zeiss computerized microscope. Serum cholesterol, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and clotting time was measured before the diet and at two, four and six weeks after operation. Plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and the metabolite of prostacyclin I2 (6-keto PGF1 alpha) were determined by radioimmunoassay before and four weeks following operation. A similar and significant increase in serum cholesterol was observed in all animals receiving lipid supplementation. Platelet counts were significantly decreased in those animals receiving a combination of aspirin and dipyridamole while all other hematological parameters remained unchanged. Plasma TXB2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha were unaffected by dipyridamole but were significantly decreased in those animals receiving the combined drug regimen. Intimal thickness measured 59 +/- 6 micron at six weeks in the controls. Dipyridamole reduced intimal thickness to 26 +/- 2 micron while aspirin and dipyridamole decreased intimal thickness to 28 +/- 2 micron. The data indicate that dipyridamole was as effective in reducing smooth muscle cell proliferation as the combination of aspirin and dipyridamole. Furthermore, the data suggest that antiplatelet drug regimens may reduce intimal thickening in autologous vein grafts by a mechanism other than affecting the thromboxane:prostacyclin ratio.