Background and Objectives: Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is beneficial in the improvement of endothelial dysfunction and the prevention of atherosclerosis-related diseases. We evaluated the ability of ALA to affect stent restenosis in a porcine coronary stent restenosis model.
Materials and Methods: Balloon overdilation injuries were performed in two coronary arteries in 12 pigs. Four weeks after the balloon overdilation injury, bare metal stent were placed for injured coronary artery area. We randomized to two groups (n=6 per group): 1) control group, aspirin and clopidogrel only, 2) ALA group, aspirin and clopidogrel plus 100mg/kg ALA during 4 weeks. Follow-up coronary angiogram and histopathologic assessment were performed at 4 weeks after stenting.
Results: On quantitative coronary angiogram, the coronary artery diameters were not significantly different between the two groups before balloon injury and stenting. On histopathologic analysis, injury score, internal elastic lamina area and lumen area did not differ significantly between the two groups. The neointimal area was 3.2짹0.9 mm² in control group and 1.7짹0.6 mm² in ALA group (p竊�0.001), and the histopathologic area of stenosis was 59.4짹12.8 % in control group, 37.9짹10.7 % in ALA group (p竊�0.001).
Conclusion竊� High dose of ALA inhibits stent restenosis in a porcine coronary stent restenosis model.