218

CONCLUSION: In patients with severe PVD, significantsubclavian artery stenosis is common, is frequently bi­lateral and may lead to a considerable underestimationof the severity of hypertension. When the opportunityarises, blood pressure measurements by cuff should becompared with aortic pressure. Large differences mayindicate the need for more aggressive medical or percu­taneous therapy and have implications for post-proce­dure monitoring.

Contrast Media in CT Angiography: FactorsInfluencing the Enhancement of Portal Systemjoan Koo Han, MD, Seoul, Korea. Ki Yeol Lee, MD.

Hong Dae Kim, MD. Byung Ihn Choi, MD. jae

Hyung Park, MD. Man Chung Han, MD

PURPOSE: To know the factors influencing the enhance­ment of portal venous system.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In eight dogs, single leveldynamic CT through the liver was done at 5 secondsinterval just after the contrast media injection for 3 min­utes. We used combination of three different amount (1,2, 3 cc/kg), concentration (150, 200, 300 mgVrnl), andinjection speed (0.5, 1, 2 cclkg). In each CT scans,enhancement curve of aorta (Ao) , portal vein (PV) andliver (L) was obtained. The degree of maximum en­hancement (Imax), time to reach peak enhancement(Tmax) and time to equilibrium (Teq) were analyzed in216 graphs.

RESULTS: With increasing amount of contrast media,Imax, Tmax and Teq of Ao, PV and L increased signifi­cantly. With increasing speed of injection, Imax of Aoincreased, Tmax and Teq of Ao decreased significantly.However, Imax of PV and L did not show significantchange. Use of more concentrated contrast result insignificant increase in Tmax of Ao, slight increase inTmax of PV & 1. Teq and Tmax did not show Significantchange.

CONCLUSIONS: Volume of the contrast had most signif­icant effect on the degree of contrast enhancement. In­jection speed has prominent effect on arterial enhance­ment, however, has limited effect on portal venoussystem.

Renal Angiomyolipomas: Relationship Betweenan Aneurysmal Size and a RuptureNaoshi Tanaka, MD, TSU, MIE. Koichiro Yamakado,

MD. Toshio Nakagawa, MD. Tandanori Hirano, MD

• Kaname Matsumura, MD. Kan Takeda, MD

PURPOSE: A spontaneous rupture is the major compli­cation of renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs). The tumor sizeand the symptoms have been considered factors to pre­dict a rupture of AMLs. It is known that AMLs frequentlyassociate aneurysms. But there were no reports studyinga relationship between the aneurysmal size and the rup­ture. In this study, we evaluated whether aneurysmalsize can be a predictor for the rupture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients withAMLs were retrospectively studied. Five patients under­went angiography just following spontaneous ruptureand rest thirteen patients underwent angiography with­out any history of rupture. A relationship between theaneurysmal size and the rupture was evaluated in theruptured and unruptured AMLs.

RESULTS: Aneurysmal formation was found in all '; pa­tients with ruptured AMLs and 9 of 13 patients withunruptured AMLs. Mean aneurysmal size of rupturedAMLs was significantly larger than that of unrupturedAMLs (13.4 mm vs 2.8 mm; p < 0.01). AMLs with large(;:::9 mm) aneurysms ruptured more frequently thanthose with small «9 mm) aneurysms (83.3% vs 0%; P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysmal size can be considered afactor to predict a spontaneous rupture of AMLs in ad­dition to the tumor size and the symptoms.

Arterial Intervention

Acute and Follow up Results With Cutting BalloonInfrapopliteal Angioplastyjean Marc Pemes, PhD, Antony, France. Mario

Auguste, PhD. Eduardo Aptecar, PhD. jean Louis

Lasry, PhD. Denis Hovasse, PhD. jean Paul

Convard, PhD

PURPOSE: The cutting balloon (CB), an innovative newdevice which dilates the atherosclerotic plaque by lon­gitudinal scoring with 3-4 metal blades mounted on theballoon, may lead to minimization of disorderly arterialinjury and reduction of restenosis. We examined theacute and follow up results and effects in cases whichunderwent infrapopliteal angioplasty using CB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: CB Angioplasty was at­tempted in 11 patients with chronic critical leg ischemia(6 with rest pain, 5 with tissue necrosis, and 11 withankle pressure < 50 mmHg). Sixteen infrapoplitealle­sions were treated (12 stenosis and 4 short occlusions of4 anterior tibial arteries, 4 peroneal arteries and 3 pos­terior tibial arteries). The 3.6 F coaxial device was in­serted through a SF antegrade femoral sheath. Infrapop­liteal angioplasty was performed with 2- and 4-mmdiameter CB in conjunction with 0.014 "guide wire. At 6attn of pressure, an inflation time of one minute wasused. Angiographic follow-up was performed at an av­erage of 7.2 months.

RESULTS: CB alone with a single, short inflation and noadjunctive balloon was performed with technical successin 95% of the cases. Local dissection, visible angiographi­cally was present in 1 patient. Stenting was never re­quired. No complications were encountered. All patientsshowed clinical improvement at 1 month. The restenosisrate was 26%.

CONCLUSION CB dilates well in less procedural time.Sharp and regular endovascular surgical incision leads tofewer dissections and a relatively low restenosis rate.

Long Term Patency Rate in Post-Angioplasty DiacArtery Dissection Treated With self-Expandable StentMarc Robert Sapoval, MD, PhD, Paris, France.Hernan Gabriel Bertoni, MD. Alain Claude Raynaud,

MD • Bernard Marie Beyssen, MD. Thierry Carreres,

MD • jean-Claude Gaux, MD

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term patency rate of iliacstent as treatment of post-angioplasty dissection.

MATERTALS AND METHODS: Between October 1988 andAugust 1997, 40 consecutive patients were treated foracute arterial dissection following iliac angioplasty byimplantation of a Wallstent in the same session.

Patients were followed-up clinically and by intrave­nous angiography or dupplex scanning.

Clinical success was defined as relieved or improvedsymptoms.

Angiographical success during follow-up was defined

as absence of total occlusion or restenosis >50%. Pa­tency rates were calculated using the life table method.

RESULTS: The initial technical success rate was 97%.Three complications were observed during the firstmonth (7.5%). Mean angiographical follow-up was 31months [8d-103 months].

Angiographic primary (secondary) patency were95 ::':: 3,6% (95 ::':: 3.6%) at 6 months and 68 ::':: 12.8%(78 ::':: ] 1%) at 4 years. At the end of clinical follow-up(mean = 3 years), 30 patients (75%) had maintainedclinical success and 10 (25%) were not improved.

CONCLUSION Wallstent implantation is an effective and safemethod to treat PTA induced dissection with a high primarysuccess rate and satisfactory long term patency rate.

Placement of Palmaz-Midsize-Stent inSymptomatic Peripheral Occlusive Artery DiseaseStefan Mueller-Huelsbeck, MD, Kiel, Germany.Helmut Schwarzenberg, MD. johann Link, MD.joachim Brossman, MD. johann Christian Stefens,MD • Martin Heller, MD

PURPOSE: To evaluate effectiveness, success and pa­tency rates after endovascular treatment with mid-sizePalmaz-Stents in high-grade stenoses or short-distanceocclusions of femoral arteries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patientswith 10 occlusions (average length of 3.2 ::':: 1.4 cm [SD])and 17 severe stenoses of the superficial femoral arterywere treated with 33 mid-size Palmaz-Stents. Accuratestent deployment was controlled with intravascular ul­trasound to achieve complete expansion. The follow-upprovided Doppler ultrasound at 1, 3, 6 and 12 monthsand an angiography at 6 months and was 6.1 month inmean.

RESULTS: Stent placement succeeded in 100%. Final an­giography depicted complete stent deployment. The an­kle-brachial-index improved from 0.57 ::':: 0.28 [SD] pre­treatment to 0.86 ::':: 0.12 [SD] within 24 hours. Acutethrombosis occurred in two patients «3 weeks). An­giography at 6 months revealed restenosis rates of 11%«50% n = 2; >50% n = 1). Survival analysis revealed6-month primary and secondary patency rates of 88.9%

and 96.3%.

CONCLUSION With regard to our limited data, the im­plantation of mid-size Palmaz stents in femoral arteriesseems promising in treatment of short-distance occlu­

sions and stenoses of the femoral artery.

Endoprostheses Prevent Recurrent Restenosis inTransplant Renal ArteriesSergio David Sierre, MD, Paris, France. Alain ClaudeRaynaud, MD. Thierry Carreres, MD. Marc Robert

Sapoval, MD, PhD. Bernard Marie Beyssen, MD.

jean-Claude Gaux, MD

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of stent placement inthe treatment of recurrent restenosis of transplant renalartery (TRA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study includ­ing 6 consecutive patients who underwent a mean of

3.66 previous treatments of TRA stenosis/patient beforestent implantation (20 angioplasties and 2 surgical pro­cedures). The endoprostheses were a Wallstent in 4patients and a Palmaz stent in 2. Clinical, biological andduplex scanning follow-up was performed every six

months after stent placement in all patients.

RESULTS: The procedure was a technical success in allpatients, without complications. At six months, meansystolic blood pressure decreased from 179 to 152mmHg (P = .018), mean diastolic blood pressure from102 to 90 mmHg (P = .09). Mean serum creatinine leveldropped from 269 to 182 mmolll (P = .03) and thenumber of antihypertensive drugs/patient from 2.5 to1.6. At a mean follow-up of 28.3 months all TRA werepatent, with a stenosis of 40% without clinical conse­quences in 1 patient. No secondary procedure was nec­essary.

CONCLUSION Stenting is an effective treatment of TRArecurrent restenosis. Long term follow-up shows satis­factory clinical results and TRA patency rates. Stent im­plantation should be considered as the first-choice treat­ment of iterative TRA restenosis.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Covered Wallstents™With and Without TetrafIuoroethylene Coating ina Canine ModelYonghua Dong, MD, Cleveland, OH. Bart Dolmatch,MD • Randy LaBounty. Luke Brennecke

PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vivo performance of twotypes of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) covered Wall-

219

stents™ implanted in canine iliac arteries with regard tohealing response and patency.

METHODS AND MATERiALS: Two types of PET covered

Wallgrafts™ were prepared; one without any additional

treatment (PET-WS), and one with a Tetrafluoroethylene

coating (TFE-WS). These devices were implanted in the

iliac arteries of 22 mongrel dogs; TFE-WS on the right,

PET-WS on the left. Angiography, intravascular ultra­

sound (IVUS) and histology were obtained at 0.5, 1, 3,

and 6 months. Five dogs remain alive for 12 month

follow-up.

RESULTS: Data on 16 dogs was evaluated. There were 3

occlusions; 1 TFE-WS and 2 PET-WS's. These was no

significant difference between two Wallgrafts™ in tissue

response, both showing previously reported monocyte

and giant cell foreign body reaction.

CONCLUSION TFE coating did not alter the cellular re­

sponse related to Wallstents™ covered with PET.

Gender Differences in Outcome of PeripheralAngioplasty-Results of the STAR RegistryMichael C. Soulen, MD, Philadelphia, PA • Nitin

Kumar, MD

PURPOSE: 1. To evaluate gender differences in the

success and complications for peripheral angioplasty.

2. To evaluate gender differences in the relationship of

the common femoral artery (CFA) to the underlying

bone.

METHODS: 1. Technical success and complication rates

were determined for 232 patients 026 men, 106 women)

undergoing peripheral angioplasty randomly selected

from the SCVIR Transluminal Arterial Revascularization

(STAR) Registry. 2. The relationship of the CFA to theunderlying bone was measured on pelvic CT examina­

tions of 100 men and 100 women.

RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 76% ofmen and 81% of women (p = NS). Procedure sitecomplications (dissection, perforation, thromboembo­

lism) occurred in 12% of men and 8% of women (p =

NS). Puncture site complications (hematoma> 4 cm.,

pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, thrombosis)

occurred in 4 men (3%) and 17 women 06%), p < .01.

Men have fatter groins than women (57 vs. 53 mm,

p < .04). The femoral artery lies a similar distance

from the skin in women and men (28 mm, p = NS),

but closer to the underlying bone in women (24 vs. 30

mm, p < .0001).

CONCLUSION Peripheral angioplasty is equally suc­

cessful in men and women. Puncture site complica­

tions occur five times more frequently in women.

Body habitus does not appear to account for this.

Possible causes include differences in vessel size or

220 fragility.

Prostaglandin El Reduces Neointimal HyperplasiaAfter Stent Implantation Without SystemicAnticoagulation: Experimental Study in CanineKazumasa Seiji, MD, Sendai, Miyagi. Toshio

Matsuhashi, PhD, MD • Hideo Miyachi. Tadashi

Ishibashi, PhD, MD • Shoki Takahashi, PhD, MD •

Shogo Yamada, PhD, MD

PURPOSE: Endovascular stenting is accepted widely as a

treatment for stenotic vascular lesions. However, acutethrombosis and late neointimal formation remain a con­cern. In this study we investigated the effectiveness ofprostaglandin El (PGEl), which has anti-platelet aggre­gating activity, in the prevention of neointimal hyperpla­sia after stent implantation.

MATERiALS AND METHODS: Eight mongrel dogs wereevenly assigned either to a control group infused withsaline solution or to a treatment group infused with

PGE1. Z-stents were placed in the right iliac veins of thedogs. Both saline solution and PGEI (0.3 micrograms/

kg/hour) were administered intravenously beginning 30minutes before stent implantation and until 4 hours afterstenting. At 4 weeks, the dogs were sacrificed, and neo­

intimal thickening was measured by light microscopy.Measurements were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS: All vessels were patent at the time of harvest.Mean neointimal thickness was significantly less in thetreated group compared with the control group (0.48

mm ± 0.69 standard deviation versus 0.82 mm ± 0.87standard deviation, respectively; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS: PGEI effectively prevents neointimalhyperplasia after stent implantation.

Early Results of AAA Stenting May Be MisleadingAndrew Brown. Newcastle upon Tyne, England.John D.G. Rose, • Michael G. Wyatt

PURPOSE: This paper examines early changes in AAAsize following apparently successful aortic stenting.

METHODS: Thirty six AAA's have been repaired using abifurcate system. The maximum aortic diameter was re­corded for each patient on a pre-operative CT scan.Follow-up scans have been performed at regular post­operative intervals 0, 3, 6 and 12 months)/ All scanshave been examined for endoleak and change in AAAdiameter by a consultant interventional radiologist. Pa­tients have been grouped dependent upon initial AAA

size (Group 1, 45-54mm; Group 2, 55-64mm; Group 3,

>65mm).

RESULTS: Twenty eight of these patients have reached1 month follow up (range 1-18 months; median 6

months). The median diameter has reduced in all

groups:Eighteen aneurysms have decreased in size (64%),

one despite a small persisting endoleak. In 10 patients,the aneurysm sac has either remained the same (4) or

increased (6) in diameter. In only one of these has CT

detected an endoleak, and this closed spontaneously at

3 months.

CONCLUSION Despite median diameter decrease in all

groups, CT scanning has revealed shrinkage of the sac in

only 64% of patients. AAA diameter is actually increasing

in 21%, despite an apparently successful procedure.

These early findings are worrying and may reflect inad­

equate exclusion of the AAA from the systemic circula­

tion. Conventional CT may not be detecting small en­

doleaks and interpretation of 'stenting success' must be

guarded until long term results are available.

Role of Urokinase in the Treatment of AcuteArteriall Occlusion of the Small Vessels of theHand and ForearmStephen P. johnson, MD, Denver, CO. Salman Bashir,

MD. janette D. Durham, MD. Stephen W Subber,

MD • joseph Krysl, MD. David A. Kumpe, MD

PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience with regional

thrombolytic therapy in acute arterial occlusions of the

forearm and hand.

MATERlALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with acute

(n = 8) or subacute (n = 4) arterial ischemia secondary

to occlusion of arteries of the forearm and hand who

underwent regional urokinase infusion were retrospec­

tively identified. Pre and post treatment arteriograms

were compared to document arterial patency prior to

and following therapy. Medical and radiological records

were reviewed to assess improvement in ischemic cate­

gory and extremity viability.

RESULT'S: Following therapy, 12 patients demonstrated

angiographic improvement and 8 patients had viable

extremities without ischemia. Tissue necrosis in 4 pa­

tients led to partial amputation of one (n = 2) and three

(n = 2) digits. The level of amputation was altered

favorably in all but one patient. Three of these patientshad category 3 ischemia at presentation. One patient

required surgery to control two puncture site hemor­rhages. There were no other complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolysis with regional urokinasecan opti!llize digital run-off, improve ischemic symp­

toms, limit tissue loss, and obviate or improve the op­

tions for digital surgical bypass in patients with forearmand hand ischemia.

In Vitro Effectiveness Study for HydrodynamicThrombectomy DevicesStefan Mueller-Huelsbeck, MD, Kiel, Germany.

Helmut Schwarzenberg, MD. Christopher Bangard •

Martin Heller, MD

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy for the hydrody­

namic thrombectomy devices Angiojet™ (AD, Hydrol­yser™ (HL) and S.E.T.TM (SET).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thrombectomy of clots(n = 70; 7,31 g) from 7-day old porcine blood wasperformed with either A], HL or SET in an in vitroflow-model simulating the superficial femoral artery. Allcatheters were used with and without recommendedguidewires (SET.014 inch/A] and HL.018 inch!HL.025

inch).

RESULTS: Mean thrombectomy time ranged from 10.2 s

(HL) to 37.7 s (AJ018) and was prolonged, if AJ and HL

were used with a guidewire (p < 0.01). AJ, AJ018 and

HL.018 worked isovolumetrically, mean quotients of ap­

plied saline and aspirated fluid decreased (p < 0.01) for

HL to 0.5 and SET to 0.6. Overall weight of emboli inmean determined for 10, 100 and 1000 j1.m seize and

percentage emboli weight related to thrombus weight in

mean were 56.4 mg/0.78% (AD, 23 mg/0.31% (A].018),

3.2 mg/0.04% (SET; p < .01), 1.9 mg/0.03% (SET.014;

p < .01), 9.9 mg/0.13% (HL; p < .05), 66.5 mg/0.91%

(HL.018) and 24.7 mg/0.34% (HL.025).

CONCLUSIONS: Emboli rates of all used devices are low.

Thrombectomy time and emboli rate in vitro depend on

the chosen device and on the use of guidewires. Using

SET and HL, aspirated fluid exceeded applied salinevolumina. In vivo this may lead to blood loss and a

decrease of hemoglobin, additional to hemolysis caused

by high pressure saline jets.

The Management of Peripheral ArterialAneurysms Using Percutaneous Injection ofFibrin AdhesiveHenry William Loose, MD, Newcastle upon Tyne,

England. Philip Haslam, MD. Ian Morris, MD.

Patrick Kesteven, MD

PURPOSE: To investigate a method of occlusion of an­

eurysms maintaining preservation of the artery of origin

and avoid the use of metallic coils and endovascular

stents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An angioplasty balloon

catheter is placed across the neck of the aneurysm andinflated to occlude flow within the sac. This is confirmedby Doppler ultrasound examination and guided percu­taneous needle puncture is directed into the aneurysmcavity. 3 rnls of fibrin tissue adhesive (Beriplast-P) isinjected into the cavity while the balloon catheter re­mains inflated. The production of clot within the cavity isconfirmed by ultrasound and the needle is then with­drawn.

RESULTS: Nine patients with peripheral aneurysms (6

femoral, 2 popliteal and 1 posterior tibial) have been

successfully treated. Two femoral aneurysms demon­

strated very minor residual flow on follow-up ultrasound

at 12 hours but both thrombosed at 24 hours. No com­plications have resulted.

CONCLUSION The technique adds to the availablemethods of treatment of aneurysms with preservation of

221

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an intact vessel of origin. It is cost effective, requiresminimal hospitalisation and avoids the use of generalanaesthetic.

Embolization of Aortic Branch Vessels Prior toEndovascular Repair of Abdominal AorticAneurysms: Technical and Early Clinical ResultsRichard Edwards, FRCR, Glasgow, England. Derek

Gould, FRCR. Jonathan Moss, FRCR

PURPOSE: Communicating endoleaks are a recognizedcomplication of endovascular repair of abdominal aorticaneurysms (AAA) and may result from antegrade or

retrograde flow through patent lumbar branches or theinferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Continued pressuriza­

tion of the aneurysm sac places the patient at risk of

delayed rupture and pre-operative embolization may

avoid this complication. We present our experience of

pre-operative embolization of aortic branch vessels in 11patients prior to endovascular repair of AAA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed visceral angiogra­phy was performed in all cases. Coil embolization was

attempted in 11 IMA's and 4 lumbar arteries. Coaxial

catheter techniques were used in 5 cases and a brachialapproach was used in 6 patients. Antibiotics were ad­ministered for 24 hours and endovascular repair was

performed within this period.

RESULTS: IMA embolization was technically successful in

10 of 11 patients and 4 lumbar arteries were embolized

in 2 patients. There was no clinical evidence of post­

procedural colonic or distal limb ischaemia.

CONCLUSIONS: Embolization of patent aortic branches

appears to be technically feasible and in this series noSignificant complications were encountered.

Preoperative Embolization of MeningiomasOlivier Christian D'Archambeau, MD, Edegem,Antwerp, Belgium. Luc van den Hauwe, MD. Arthur

Marcel De Schepper, MD, PhD

PURPOSE: The feaSibility of preoperative devasculariza­tion of meningiomas depends on the localization of thetumor and on the pattern of vascularization. We evalu­

ated the potential risk that the ophthalmic artery mayrepresent during the embolization procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1990 until

January 1997, 81 patients with CT or MRl diagnosis of

meningioma have been investigated angiographically.The average tumor size was 4.5 cm (range 1-12 cm).

In all patients we performed a selective catheterizationusing a vertebral or Simmons shaped diagnostic cath­

eter and a microcatheter, followed by preoperative embo­

lization with PYA particles in 42 patients. No emboliza­tion was attempted in 23 patients because of internal ca­rotid artery vascularization (n = 10), technical failure (n =

7), feeders not clearly identified (n = 5) and allergic reac­

tion prior to embolization (n = 1). In 16 patients no pre-

operative embolization was required by the referring clini­

cians.

RESULTS: Complete tumor devascularization was

achieved in 16 patients, subtotal devascularization (50%­

99%) in 18 patients, and partial devascularization (less

than 50%) in 8 patients. Major complications occurred

in 3 patients, 2 related to the ophthalmic artery, One

patient left the angio suite with a transient hemiplegia

as a consequence of reflux of contour particles

through the ophthalmic artery in the internal carotid

artery. He recovered completely after a period of one

week. In another patient the ophthalmic artery origi­

nated from the feeding middle meningeal artery. Dis­

tal catheterization was difficult resulting in a epidural

extravasation.

CONCLUSION Preoperative meningioma embolization is

a safe and effective procedure when performed by

skilled radiologists. However, anatomical variants and

collateral circulation to the ophthalmic artery have to be

recognized prior to embolization in order to avoid po­

tential severe complications.

Effect of Oral Anti-allergic Medicine in PreventingAdverse Intimal Hyperplasia After StentPlacementNobushige Hayashi, MD, Yoshida-gun, FukUi, Japan.

Rika Inagaki, MD. Toru Yamamoto, MD. Toyohiko

Sakai, MD. Yasushi Ishii, MD

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of oral anti­

allergic medicine (Tranilast), in preventing the undesir­

able intimal hyperplasia of the aortic wall after stent

placement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten rabbits in whichexpandable metallic stents were placed in the aorta

were studied. Five of them started a diet mixed with

Tranilast one week before the stent placement, and

continued it until they were sacrificed. As controls, the

other rabbits were administered a normal diet. All the

animals were sacrificed four weeks after the stent

placement. Their aorta, including the stents, were

fixed with formalin, and the extent of intimal hyper­

plasia was measured under the microscope using the

area measuring device.

RESULTS: The mean area of intima of the aortic wall in

the Tranilast-fed group was measured as 1.08 mm2,

which was significantly smaller than that in the control

group (2.45 mm2). The stenosis ratio also was signif­

icantly smaller in the Tranilast group (23.1% Vs

37.2%).

CONCLUSION: Tranilast effectively prevented the intimal

hyperplasia of the aortic wall in the rabbits after stent

placement. It appears to hold promise as an adjunct to

prevent adverse intimal hyperplasia in human beings.