title: Endothelial cell seeding of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vena cava conduits: effects on luminal production of prostacyclin, platelet adherence, and fibrinogen accumulation.
abstract: The blood-surface interface of 12 mm ID x 5 cm ePTFE vena cava conduits, unseeded (n = 8) and seeded (n = 8) with enzymatically derived autologous endothelial cells, was studied in a canine model at 4 and 12 weeks after graft implantation. Acetylsalicylic acid (325 mg each day) and Coumadin (prothrombin time 1.4 to 1.7 times the control value) were administered preoperatively and continued 4 weeks postoperatively. Platelets labeled with 111In and 125I-labeled fibrinogen were administered 24 hours before graft removal. Luminal platelet adherence, expressed as 10(6) platelets/cm2 of graft surface, was 8.9 +/- 5.6 vs. 56.4 +/- 8.0 (p less than 0.008) and 4.0 +/- 0.9 vs. 12.4 +/- 2.3 (p less than 0.005) in seeded vs. unseeded grafts at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. Luminal fibrinogen deposition, expressed in micrograms per square centimeter of graft surface, was 11.8 +/- 2.2 vs. 32.0 +/- 2.0 (p less than 0.06) and 6.1 +/- 2.4 vs. 12.4 +/- 6.3 (p less than 0.005) in seeded vs. unseeded grafts at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. Cumulative 4- and 12-week luminal production of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from seeded and unseeded grafts represented 11% and 5%, respectively, of that produced from the native iliac vein. Luminal endothelial cell coverage was 71% +/- 22% vs. 33% +/- 9% and 79% +/- 8% vs. 55% +/- 8% (p less than 0.05) in seeded and unseeded grafts at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. Although endothelialization was not complete in seeded vena cava grafts, it is clear that seeded prostheses exhibited improved thromboresistance compared with unseeded conduits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Köveker
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Burkel
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000378:metabolism; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011464:Epoprostenol; D001241:Aspirin