Perivascular treatment with azathioprine reduces neointimal hyperplasia in experimental vein grafts.

Background: Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory drug, and it has been shown to induce apoptosis in human T-lymphocytes. We investigated whether local treatment with azathioprine can inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in experimental vein grafts.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice underwent interposition of the inferior vena cava from isogenic donor mice into the common carotid artery using a cuff technique.