The effect of vitamin E and doxycycline on the development of intimal hyperplasia

The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and doxycycline on the development of intimal hyperplasia in the injured rabbit carotid artery. Three groups of New Zealand white rabbits (10 rabbits each) underwent standardized balloon catheter injury of the carotid artery. One group received 300-400 U/kg of vitamin E orally each day for 4 weeks; another group received 10 mg/kg of doxycycline orally twice daily for 4 weeks and the final group remained as a control group. No statistically significant differences in the degree of intimal hyperplasia development were noted between either treatment group and controls (P > 0.60 for vitamin E, P > 0.40 for doxycycline). We conclude that neither vitamin E nor doxycycline appear to be of benefit in reducing intimal hyperplasia in the injured rabbit carotid artery.