Correlation between serum hepatocyte growth factor level and percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty: An alternative mechanism of reduction in restenosis with citostazol

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent endothelium specific growth factor and cilostazol reduces restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA). To investigate the correlation between HGF and PTCA, values of serum HGF were serially examined by angiographic follow-up for 3 months in 100 patients who underwent PTCA, and for 1 week in 49 patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG). Of the PTCA group, 36 patients received cilostazol (200 mg/day) and 64 were given aspirin (250 mg/day). Angiographic restenosis was defined as ≧50% diameter stenosis (DS) at follow-up angiography. Although HGF values did not change after CAG, they increased 2 days after PTCA (0.37±0.12 ng/mL; p<0.0001 vs. 0.32±0.11 at baseline, p=0.0004 vs. 0.30±0.09 ng/mL of the CAG group). The HGF values until 1 week after PTCA was similar between the cilostazol and aspirin sub-groups. However, the values 1 month and 3 months after PTCA were significantly lower in the cilostazol (0.29±0.08 vs. 0.34±0.10 ng/mL; p=0.012, and 0.31±0.09 vs. 0.35±0.10 ng/mL; p=0.037), than in the aspirin sub-group. Follow-up angiography revealed a significantly lower DS (37.2±16.2% vs. 45.6±18.5%; p=0.009) associated with a reduced restenosis rate (16.0% vs. 37.5%; p=0.008) in the cilostazol sub-group. These data suggest systemic HGF regulation is provoked after PTCA and the subsequent change in the serum HGF level is associated with restenosis.