Edaravone prevents bowel infarction after acute superior mesenteric artery thromboembolism using autologous fibrin clots in a rabbit model.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intra-arterial administration of edaravone after superior mesenteric artery (SMA) thromboembolism in a rabbit model. 24 Japanese white rabbits were randomly allocated to a urokinase group (group U) and a urokinase with edaravone group (group E). A further three rabbits, which were administered an autologous blood clot alone, served as a control group (group C). A 4-Fr sheath was inserted into an SMA. An autologous blood clot was administered to an SMA (group C). After 45 min, urokinase (6000 IU) and heparin (250 IU) were administered through the catheter, either alone (group U) or in conjuction with edaravone (0.5 mg kg(-1)) (group E). In eight rabbits from each of groups U and E, 6 h after reperfusion, the small intestine was harvested and divided into five equal parts. The degree of intestinal tissue injury in each part was rated on a scale of 0-8. After 1 week, survival times and blood biochemistry data were compared among rabbits in group U (four rabbits), group E (four rabbits) and group C (three rabbits), and significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded. Intestinal mucosal damage was significantly greater in group U (5.8 +/- 1.5) than in group E (2.9 +/- 0.7). Survival time tended to be longer in group E (p>0.4, not significant compared with group U). Liver and kidney function showed signs of deterioration over time whether or not edaravone was administered, but administration of edaravone reduced intestinal mucosal damage. An increase in survival rate requires improvements in evaluation methods to enable identification of ischaemic areas.