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Effect of aspirin on coronary collateral blood flow
JD Altman, D Dulas, T Pavek and RJ Bache
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.

BACKGROUND. Although aspirin exerts beneficial antiplatelet activity in patients with coronary artery disease, cyclooxygenase blockade produced by aspirin causes a potentially deleterious effect by interrupting endothelial production of prostacyclin. Collateral vessels that develop in response to coronary occlusion display prominent endothelial cell proliferation and undergo vasoconstriction in response to indomethacin. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that cyclooxygenase blockade with aspirin would cause constriction of coronary collateral vessels and that such vasoconstriction would be reversed with nitroglycerin. METHODS AND RESULTS. Collateral vessel growth was induced by embolic occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in dogs. Four to 6 months later, coronary collateral flow was measured as retrograde flow from the cannulated collateral-dependent artery. Aspirin (1 mg/kg i.v.) caused 70 +/- 8% blockade of the increase in coronary blood flow produced by intra-arterial arachidonic acid and decreased retrograde flow from 37 +/- 7 to 28 +/- 7 ml/min (p < 0.03). Increasing the dose of aspirin to 15 mg/kg i.v. caused 91 +/- 3% blockade of the response to arachidonic acid and further decreased retrograde flow to 21 +/- 4 ml/min (p < 0.01). After aspirin administration, nitroglycerin (150 micrograms/min i.c.) reversed the collateral constriction and increased retrograde flow to 37 +/- 10 ml/min (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS. These data suggest that products of cyclooxygenase metabolism cause tonic vasodilation of well-developed coronary collateral vessels. Blockade of cyclooxygenase with even low- dose aspirin caused collateral vessel constriction with a decrease in collateral blood flow. However, nitroglycerin was able to fully reverse aspirin-induced collateral vasoconstriction and restore flow to the control level.

Bayer (aspirin patent holder) is a big pharma, but as far as I know, is behind the others in MS research. If aspirin is good for MS this could be a big boost to their shares and a powerful tool against their competitors. Maybe they could support a clinical trial for aspirin in CCSVI+MS conditions, or aspirin after angio in CCSVI.

Has anybody tried to contact Bayer responsibles? Anybody here is willing to do it?

I've been wondering about this as well since Court is supposed to start taking low dose asprin daily after we finish with her arixtra.

Done and done, got her started on them this evening. Thanks for clearing things up doc.

DrS ...should all of your patients begin taking the low dose aspirin immediately following our procedures, as I confess that Gene and I both thought the use was to commence following Arixtra as well.

Rhonda
5/3/11

With a penny in my pocket!

Dr S
I put myself on low aspirin 0.75 when I read Dr Z's theory so about 15mts ago. I had my procedure and I still continue to take it - surgeon said at the time it may do me some good ....

I must say that I am not on any meds nor have I ever been... DX 2009 CCSVI 2010.

My GP /Neuro know I’m on aspirin - I plan on staying on it... unless told differently or illness dictates I’m mindful of what I understand its effects

I take a coated aspirin and with probiotic drink

Your opinion would be very much welcomed