Comparative Effects of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Coronary Collateral Development and the Arterial Response to Injury

Background We have shown that the angiogenic peptides basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) enhance canine coronary collateral development when administered for ≥4 weeks. bFGF, a pluripotent mitogen of mesodermally derived cells, could theoretically exacerbate neointimal smooth muscle cell hyperplasia, a fundamental component of atherosclerosis. VEGF, an endothelial cell–specific mitogen and vascular permeability factor, could have deleterious effects related to vascular hyperpermeability. The present investigation had two aims: (1) to ascertain whether brief (7-day) systemic arterial treatment with bFGF or VEGF would improve myocardial collateral perfusion and (2) to determine whether these peptides induce neointimal accumulation in vivo. Methods and Results Dogs were subjected to ameroid-induced occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery and randomized to bFGF 1.74 mg (n=9), VEGF 0.72 mg (n=9), or saline (n=10) as a daily left atrial bolus (days 10 to ...