Rosiglitazone and vascular injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits: neointimal formation assessment

th day. Results: In the contralateral iliac artery, there was no significant difference in the intima/media layer area ratio (IMR) between the control and rosiglitazone groups. Rosiglitazone did not reduce the probability of type I, II, or III lesions (72.73% vs 92.31%; p=0.30) and type IV or V lesions (27.27% vs 7.69%; p=0.30). As for the homolateral iliac artery, the intimal area was significantly lower in the rosiglitazone group, as compared to the control group (p = 0.024). The luminal layer area was higher in the rosiglitazone group vs the control group (p < 0.0001). There was a significant reduction of 65% in the IMR in the rosiglitazone group vs. the control group (p = 0.021). None of the histological criteria for type I-V atherosclerotic lesions (American Heart Association) were found in the homolateral iliac artery. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that rosiglitazone given for 6 weeks prevents atherogenesis at the injury site, but not in a vessel distant from the injury site. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2010; [online]. ahead print, PP.0-0)