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The Beneficial Effect of Aspirin and Enoxaparin on Fibrosis Progression and Regenerative Activity in a Rat Model of Cirrhosis

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the antithrombotic drugs aspirin and enoxaparin on fibrosis progression and regenerative activity in a rat model of liver cirrhosis and to determine if these two drugs are beneficial in animals with advanced fibrosis or with established cirrhosis undergoing partial hepatectomy. Thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic rats received saline (N=10), aspirin (N=7), or enoxaparin (N=11) for a 5-week treatment period. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed according to METAVIR score. Liver regeneration was monitored using PCNA immunostaining. Compared to untreated cirrhotic controls, a significant improvement in fibrosis grade was observed in the aspirin (43%; χ2=54, P < 0.001) and enoxaparin (36%; χ2=43, P < 0.001) treated groups. Postoperatively, total serum bilirubin levels were lower in the aspirin (1.4±0.18 mg/dl; P < 0.01) and enoxaparin (1.8±0.35 mg/dl; P < 0.05)-treated groups compared to untreated cirrhotic controls (3.2±0.6 mg/dl). Hepatic regenerative activity was significantly improved in the aspirin group (57.3%±6.8%, versus 34.2%±7.2% in untreated cirrhotic controls; P < 0.01) but unchanged in the enoxaparin group. We conclude that aspirin and enoxaparin hold promise as a useful therapy for patients with extensive fibrosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Clinic, Sieff Government Hospital, P.O.B. 1008, Safed 13100, Israel

    Nimer Assy

  2. Liver Unit/Sieff Hospital/Technion Faculty of Medicine, Sieff Government Hospital, Safed, Isarel

    Nimer Assy & Osamah Hussein

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Sieff Government Hospital, Safed, Israel

    Abdallah Khalil & Anthony Luder

  4. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

    Melia Paizi & Gadi Spira

  5. Department of Pathology, Sieff Government Hospital, Safed, Israel

    Sergio Szvalb

Authors
  1. Nimer Assy
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  2. Osamah Hussein
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  3. Abdallah Khalil
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  4. Anthony Luder
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  5. Sergio Szvalb
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  6. Melia Paizi
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  7. Gadi Spira
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Correspondence to Nimer Assy.

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Assy, N., Hussein, O., Khalil, A. et al. The Beneficial Effect of Aspirin and Enoxaparin on Fibrosis Progression and Regenerative Activity in a Rat Model of Cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci 52, 1187–1193 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9595-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9595-1

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