Drug Decreasing Blood Vessel Stiffness

[Guest guest]

Here is an interesting article on an experimental drug which reduces the

stiffness of blood vessels and thereby might help in treating various forms

of heart disease.

Drug Decreases Blood Vessel Stiffness in Older Primates

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January 29, 2001

A novel drug that breaks down vascular collagen bonds in the body

significantly decreased the stiffness of blood vessels in older non-human

primates, according to a study conducted by National Institute on Aging (NIA)

scientists and others.* The finding suggests the medication could be a new

treatment for high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain vascular

complications of diabetes.

ALT-711 (Alteon, Ramsey, New Jersey), a thiazolium-based compound, snips

bonds or crosslinks created in the arteries and other tissues whe n glucose

attaches to collagen. Crosslinks are cable-like structures that inhibit the

natural flexibility of collagen strands. They tend to proliferate with age.

Crosslinks appear to toughen tissues and may cause some of the deterioration

associated with aging and diabetes, such as elevated systolic blood pressure,

hardened arteries, and impaired kidney function.

In the study, six rhesus monkeys received doses of ALT-711 every other day

for three weeks. Six weeks after the last treatment, all of the vessel walls

tested were more flexible, and the effect persisted for more than four months

after final administration of the drug. Blood flow through the heart also

increased and this improvement persisted for nearly 10 months after the

treatments ended. No significant changes in body weight or routine chemical

measurements were detected during the follow-up period. The finding was

published in the January 30, 2001 issue of " Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences " .

" Arterial stiffening is a major factor in many of the vascular diseases

associated with advancing age, " said Lakatta, M.D., co-author of the

study and chief of the NIA's Laboratory of Cardiovascular Sciences. " The

significance of this drug is it alters the properties of the arterial wall

and makes it easier for the heart to eject blood into the blood vessels.

These results, coupled with prior studies in smaller animals, certainly

suggest that ALT-711 may be a safe and efficacious approach to decreasing the

impact of arterial stiffness on cardiovascular health. However, further

research, including on-going studies in people, will be needed in order to

confirm and extend these findings. "

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Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA