Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor microspheres on angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium and cardiac function: analysis with dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance tagging.

OBJECTIVE Therapeutic angiogenesis with angiogenic growth factors has described as one of the promising methods for collateral formation in the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. The purpose of this study is to assess the value of intramyocardial injection of slow-released basic fibroblast growth factor microspheres on angiogenesis and cardiac function in the early period of acute infarcted myocardium with dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance tagging. METHODS Acute myocardial infarction was made by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery distal to its first diagonal branch. Immediately after coronary artery occlusion, 1 ml of saline containing 100 microg of basic fibroblast growth factor microspheres was injected into peri-infarct myocardial area in the basic fibroblast growth factor group, whereas only gelatin hydrogel microspheres with 1 ml of saline was given in control dogs. Cardiac function was evaluated by cine magnetic resonance imaging. Dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed at rest and during low doses of dobutamine to assess regional wall motion. Immunohistochemical study with von Willebrand factor was performed to observe angiogenesis. RESULTS Left ventricular ejection fraction improved markedly 10 and 17 days after treatment in the basic fibroblast growth factor group. The basic fibroblast growth factor group had more viable myocardium. Microvessel density was higher in the basic fibroblast growth factor group than in the control group except the first day after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Intramyocardial administration of basic fibroblast growth factor microspheres can promote the growth of microvessels and improve left ventricular function and myocardial viability in the early period of acute myocardial infarction.