These simple hemodynamic parameters, which can be obtained without added risk to the patient, may help identify a subset of individuals in whom AVMs pose a higher risk of future hemorrhage and who may therefore warrant more expeditious treatment.
To define the pathological effects of angioplasty on vasospastic arteries, 36 rabbits underwent angiography and induction of vasospasm by placement of blood-filled (vasospasm groups) or empty (control group) silastic sheaths around the cervical carotid arteries. Two (Day 2) or 7 days (Day 7) later, angiography was repeated and one carotid artery in each animal was dilated by balloon angioplasty. The rabbits were sacrificed 1 day, 7 days, or 3 to 4 weeks after angioplasty. Significant vasospasm developed after placement of silastic sheaths with blood (mean reductions in diameter 39% +/- 6% at Day 2 and 48% +/- 5% at Day 7). Arterial narrowing was less apparent in the control groups at Day 2 (24% +/- 7%). Angioplasty performed on Day 2 significantly increased arterial diameters of vasospastic arteries (50% +/- 7%; p < 0.05) but not those of control arteries (10% +/- 6%, p > 0.05). Angioplasty performed on Day 7 increased the arterial diameters by a similar degree (47% +/- 13%, not significant). Arteries remained dilated after angioplasty, although there was significant vasospasm 7 days after angioplasty when angioplasty was performed on Day 2. Blinded, semiquantitative histopathological study of the arteries showed that 3 to 4 weeks after angioplasty, there was significant endothelial proliferation and a trend for thinning of the tunica media. There were no significant changes in control arteries subjected to angioplasty. Angioplasty was not associated with significant arterial fibrosis as measured by hydroxyproline content (analysis of variance). The increase in endothelial proliferation and decrease in the thickness of the tunica media suggest that, in the rabbit model, angioplasty damages endothelial and smooth-muscle cells. This may be the basis for the observation that vasospastic arteries do not reconstrict after angioplasty.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.