Photoangioplasty: new applications of photodynamic therapy in atherosclerosis

摘要

Abstract: Atherosclerosis has traditionally held appeal as apathologic entity in which photodynamic therapy mightarrest or reverse the manifestations of disease.Earlier attempts to bring photodynamic therapy to thehuman clinical arena were hampered by the limitationsof the photosensitizers under investigation, includingthe propensity to phototoxic manifestations andlight-induced trauma to surrounding, normal vasculartissues. Many of these inherent limitations may becircumvented by newer photosensitizers that areactivated at longer, more optimal wavelengths of lightenergy. Advances in fiberoptic catheter design for theendovascular delivery of light have also contributed tothe greater applicability of photodynamic therapy tohuman atherosclerosis. Initial experiences with onefamily of photosensitizers, the texaphyrins, indicatethat photodynamic therapy of human peripheral arterialatherosclerosis is feasible, safe, and well-tolerated.Photodynamic therapy of atherosclerosis holds promisefor the treatment of de novo atherosclerosis and mayhave future applicability in the treatment, and perhapsprevention, of restenosis. !49