We compared the antithrombotic effects of the
thrombin inhibitor,
D-methyl-phenylalanyl-prolyl-arginal (GYKI-14766) with those of
heparin in a canine model of arterial and venous rethrombosis. Thrombogenesis was induced by electrolytic injury to the endothelial surface of the carotid artery and jugular vein. Either
heparin (300 U/kg, n = 7),
GYKI-14766 (0.5 mg/kg/h, n = 7), or saline (n = 10) was administered intravenously (i.v.) immediately after the local administration of
anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (
APSAC 0.1 U/kg). Supplemental doses of
heparin (100 U/kg) were administered at 1-h intervals. Infusion of
GYKI-14766 was maintained for 5 h throughout the experiment. Ex vivo platelet aggregation in response to
ADP or
arachidonic acid (AA) was not changed in any of the experimental groups. Both
GYKI-14766 and
heparin increased the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) over their respective baseline values.
Heparin, but not
GYKI-14766, increased the bleeding time. After successful thrombolysis, arterial and venous rethrombosis occurred in all saline-treated dogs.
GYKI-14766 prevented cyclic flow variations and reocclusion in the artery and the vein (p < 0.01).
Heparin had only minimal effects on the artery and no effect on the vein. Arterial
thrombus weights were reduced by
GYKI-14766 [saline control = 24 +/- 4 mg,
GYKI-14766 = 9 +/- 3 mg, (p < 0.05);
heparin = 14 +/- 2 mg, p = NS]. The venous
thrombus weights were reduced slightly by
GYKI-14766 and were unchanged by
heparin (saline = 25 +/- 5 mg,
GYKI-14766 = 13 +/- 4 mg,
heparin = 26 +/- 3 mg). The data suggest that
GYKI-14766 is effective in preventing occlusive rethrombosis in both the arterial and venous circulation after thrombolysis without augmenting bleeding time.
GYKI-14766 may represent an alternative to
heparin as an adjunctive agent during
thrombolytic therapy.