The effect of anticoagulation with subcutaneously delivered polyethylene glycol conjugated hirudin and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator on recurrent stenosis in the rabbit double-balloon injury model.

Myointimal hyperplasia is the condition usually responsible for recurrent stenosis (restenosis) after endarterectomy, bypass grafting and angioplasty. Its cause is still not known. The present study examined whether inhibition of thrombin by tissue plasminogen activator (r-TPA) or polyethylene glycol recombinant hirudin (PEG-hirudin) could reduce restenosis in an animal model.