Antiplatelet Effect of FK633, a Platelet Glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa Antagonist, on Thrombus Formation and Vascular Patency after Thrombolysis in the Injured Hamster Carotid Artery

Abstract

The antithrombotic and restenosis-preventing effects of FK633, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation via binding to the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor, were studied, IC50 value of FK633 against platelet aggregation ex vivo induced by 2.5 microM adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was 5.4 x 10(-7) M as determined using hamster platelet rich plasma. The inhibitory effect was also investigated in vivo on thrombus formation at the carotid arterial wall injured by a modified catheter. As a control, the left carotid artery was injured and the time required to develop a thrombotic occlusion (3.9 +/- 1.1 min, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 18) was determined. Then, the right carotid artery of the same animal was injured while a continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion of FK633 was administered at doses of 0 (saline), 0.1, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg/h. The time to occlusion was dose-dependently prolonged. In a separate experiment, 10% of the total tPA dose (0.52 mg/kg) was injected into the injured artery as a bolus and the remaining was infused i.v. at a constant rate for 30 min. When FK633 (0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg/h) was infused together with tPA, late patency of the reperfused artery was much improved as compared with that of treatment with tPA alone. Bleeding time, measured at the end of the tPA infusion, was markedly prolonged when the higher dose of FK633 (1.0 mg/kg/h) was coadministered, however coadministration of the lower dose of FK633 (0.3 mg/kg/h) was almost without prolongation on the bleeding time, despite a significant effect on the vascular patency after thrombolysis. Next, neointima formation was evaluated 2 weeks after the vascular injury. When FK633 (0.3 mg/kg/h) was continuously infused i.v. by an implanted osmotic pump for 3, 7 or 14 days after the vascular injury, the neointimal area formation was significantly suppressed in the treatment groups for 7 or 14 days. These findings suggest that FK633 inhibits platelet activation in the injured artery and improves vascular patency after thrombolysis with tPA with a concomitant suppression of neointima formation.