Abstract 334: Complementary Atherosclerosis Prophylaxis in Patients After Coronary Bypass Surgery

Abstract

Background and purpose: Atherosclerotic coronary arteries can be well-treated with innovative medicaments, through PCI or by aortocoronary bypasses. Some of the stents and bypasses close again in spite of blood-thinning. We examined in a clinical pilot study of 8 patients who had undergone a CABG operation whether atherosclerosis prophylaxis can be practised through an additional phytochemical approach with ginkgo (EGb 761, 2 × 120 mg/d). Furthermore, our trial aimed to inquire whether the bypasses remain open. Methods: As a biomarker for plaque development, atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation and size were monitored by laser ellipsometry (patent EP 0 946 876). Lipoproteins, cytosolic SOD, oxLDL, and [cAMP] and [cGMP] were determined by established methods. Results: After 2-month medication, the decrease in nanoplaque formation amounted to 11.9 ± 2.5% (p < 0.01) and in nanoplaque size to 24.4 ± 8.1% (p < 0.02), after 5 years 25.0 ± 3.7% (p < 0.01) and 45.8 ± 9.5% (p < 0.01), respectively. A multiple correlation between nanoplaque reduction and the risk factors oxLDL/LDL, Lp(a) and cGMP yielded an estimate of their relative contribution to nanoplaque diminution (34.7%, 43.3%, 22.0%). In the 5 year follow-up examination using high-resolution CT, all arterial and 86.7% of the venous bypasses were open, whereby the increase in blood nucleotides seemed to have played a prominent role. Conclusion: Ginkgo may be used as complementary drug with potentially preventive character after coronary-artery bypass graft.