[Effect of degradable starch microspheres (DSM) on hepatic hemodynamics]

The effect of intra-arterial infusion of degradable starch microspheres (DSM) on hepatic arterial blood flow was measured using a transit-time ultrasonic blood flow meter. Before the infusion of DSM, the mean hepatic arterial flows were 316 +/- 79 ml/min. After infusion, the mean flows decreased to 43 +/- 86 ml/min (86%). RI-angiography using 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) was performed to measure hemodynamic changes in the liver. T/N ratio of 99mTc-MAA accumulation was increased from 0.37 to 0.62. Based on the peripheral MMC blood levels after combined infusion with DSM and MMC, the mean AUC with MMC plus DSM was decreased to 55% of that of AUC with MMC alone. These results show that combined use of DSM is effective for intra-arterial chemotherapy against the hepatic cancer.