Prostacyclin synthesis stimulating plasma factor in patients with peripheral vascular disease

Human plasma contains a factor capable of stimulating vascular prostacyclin generation even in atherosclerotic vessels with minimal in-vitro capacity for PGI2-synthesis. The activity of this prostacyclin stimulating plasma factor (PSPF) has been reported to be elevated in renal failure and hepatic coma. We are not aware of any data as to whether this PSPF plays a role in maintaining hemostatic balance in patients with peripheral vascular lesions. Therefore, we examined 62 patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). This study group was subdivided into normo- and hyperlipemic subjects, patients with and without maturity onset diabetes, and plasma beta-thromboglobulin levels higher and lower than 50 ng/ml. 10 healthy sex and age matched persons served as controls. Vascular prostacyclin formation was studied in vitro after incubation of the patients' plasma and a buffer control with various tissue samples (human femoral artery, rat abdominal and thoracic aorta of healthy and of streptozotocin induced diabetic animals, swine endothelial layer and remaining tissue (media and adventitia) and cultured endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) of minipig arota. In addition, 6-oxo-PFG1 alpha formation by cultured EC and SMC (minipig aorta source) after incubation with tris HCl-buffer or plasma were estimated by means of specific radioimmunoassays. In general, tissue samples and cells incubated in plasma exhibit a marked increase of in-vitro PGI2-formation as compared to buffer. No difference could be found between PSPF of CHD-patients and healthy controls. Similar findings were obtained using incubated vascular tissue and cultured cells by means of the bioassay and specific RIA, respectively. These findings indicate that the PSPF does not seem to be of any clinical relevance in hemostatic regulation in patients with advanced atherosclerosis.