Other

The University of British Columbia

Qlt Inc.

Beth Anne Allison

Philippe Maria Clotaire Margaron

Julia G Levy

Anna M Richter

Valery Rubinchik

Russell G Hodge

P Haydn Pritchard

Michael David Leslie Stonefield

York N Hsiang

The present invention relates to the use of low-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) to prevent, treat, inhibit or reduce restenosis in blood vessels. The present invention may be used in combination with any angioplastic procedure to prevent restenosis or to decrease the intima thickness, and thus luminal narrowing.

Use of low-dose PDT to inhibit restenosis

Long-term dialysis requires provision of safe and reliable vascular access, often in the form of an arteriovenous (AV) fistula. The primary cause of AV fistula loss or failure is stenosis caused by intimal hyperplasia (IH) in the graft at the venous anastomosis or the distal vein. Disclosed are methods of using photodynamic therapy (PDT) to inhibit IH in blood vessels which may also be used to inhibit IH and SMC growth at the anastomosis of an AV fistula in vivo.

Use of PDT to inhibit intimal hyperplasia

Green porphyrins (Gp), compounds important in photodynamic therapy, have been associated with lipocomplexes to reduce the required amount of photosensitizer through higher effective absorption and increased specificity. BPDs, especially in conjunction with the HDL fraction of plasma lipoproteins, has been shown to be particularly effective in this context. Pharmaceutical compositions in which these combinations are the active ingredients for use in diagnosis and treatment of tumors are also disclosed.

Benzoporphyrin derivatives for photodynamic therapy

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Vancouver, Canada

Beth Anne Allison