FUREGRELATE, a thromboxane A2 (TxA2) synthase inhibitor, blunts the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension in neonatal piglets.

A third group of piglets received FUREGRELATE (3 mg/kg, 2 or 3 times daily) at the induction of CH. In vivo hemodynamics confirmed a 2.55-fold increase of the pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) in CH piglets (104±7 WU) compared to N piglets (40±2 WU). The CH piglets treated twice daily with FUREGRELATE failed to show improved PVRI, but FUREGRELATE three times daily lowered the elevated PVRI in CH piglets by 34% to 69±5 WU and ameliorated the development of right ventricular hypertrophy. Microfocal X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning was used to estimate the diameter-independent distensibility term, α (% change in diameter per Torr). Pulmonary arterial distensibility in isolated lungs of CH piglets (α=1.0±0.1% per Torr) was lower than that of N piglets (α=1.5±0.1% per Torr) indicative of vascular remodeling. Arterial distensibility was partially restored in FUREGRELATE-treated CH piglets (α =1.2±0.1% per Torr) and microscopic evidence showing muscularization of small pulmonary arteries also was less prominent in these animals. Finally, isolated lungs of FUREGRELATE-treated piglets showed lower basal and vasodilator-induced transpulmonary pressures compared to CH animals[1].