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Heart Disease In The News Angiogenesis protein may clog arteries One of the exciting new developments in the treatment of coronary artery disease is angiogenesis - injecting a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF,) or the DNA to make VEGF, into diseased coronary arteries. Over 800 patients with coronary artery disease have been treated so far with VEGF or similar substances, and recently reported results have been positive. But a new report from the World Health Organization in mice and rabbits treated with VEGF is troublesome. Investigators from the WHO report that in these two species of animals, VEGF accelerated the progression of atherosclerosis - the process that causes coronary artery disease in the first place. Researchers point out that such an effect has not been noticed so far in patients treated with VEGF, but agree that new vigilance is called for. Such an effect, if present in humans treated with this agent, will present a huge obstacle. |
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