Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of different dosage of pulsed magnetic field on expression of platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) in rabbits with carotid atherosclerosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods Carotid atherosclerosis were modeled in 50 New Zealand rabbits with air-drying lesion combined with high fat feed. All animals were treated with double side carotid endarterectomy after 2 months, and were randomly divided 3 groups: 0.6 T group, 1.0 T group and the blank control. The expression of platelet-derived growth factor-A were detected with immunohistochemistry 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after CEA. Results The expression of PDGF-A in treated groups were lower significantly than that in controls (P<0.05) 2 month after CEA, and it was the lowest in 1.0 T group, lower in 0.6 T group 3 month after CEA. Conclusion The pulsed magnetic field therapy can decrease the expression of PDGF-A, which might be helpful to prevent the carotid from restenosis.

Key words: carotid endarterectomy (CEA), restenosis, atherosclerosis, pulsed magnetic field, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)