Effects of picotamide on release of endothelin-1, thromboxane and prostacycline after treadmill stress in patients with peripheral artery disease.

To assess the effects of picotamide, an antithromboxane receptor and antithromboxane synthase drug, on vascular function and endothelin-1 release, 20 patients with peripheral arterial disease, without hypertension or diabetes mellitus, receiving placebo and picotamide (900 mg/day) were studied. The modifications of vascular parameters were evaluated by arterial distensibility index and postischemic hyperemia test (postischemic perfusion index and recovery time). Endothelin-1, prostacycline, and thromboxane B2 were determined under resting conditions and after treadmill test. Picotamide treatment caused a decrease of resting thromboxane B2 and endothelin-1 concentrations, produced an improvement of the vascular function as seen by the increase of vascular parameters reported, and attenuated the ischemic treadmill-induced increase of thromboxane B2, but not of endothelin-1. These data confirm that the picotamide improved vascular flow by the reduction of thromboxane-mediated effects, reduced resting endothelin-1 levels, but did not attenuate endothelin-1 concentrations induced by the treadmill stress.