title: The aetiology of vein graft stenoses.
abstract: The aetiology of vein graft stenosis is poorly understood. In a cohort of 88 patients, the mean internal diameter of the vein grafts that developed a stenosis was 3.7 (3.1-4.2) mm compared to 4.7 (4.4-5.0) mm in those that did not (p = 0.006). The mean lowest compliance value in the 11 patients who developed a stenosis was 0.1 (0.07-0.13) % per mmHg compared to 0.21 (0.19-0.23) % per mmHg in the rest (p < 0.001). The presence of vein incompetence, site of tributaries or valves and the degree of endothelial cell loss were not related to the development of vein graft stenoses. The presence of a macrophage infiltrate (p < 0.001), lymphocyte infiltrate (p < 0.025) and subendothelial smooth muscle cells (p < 0.05) were all significantly more common in those grafts that developed a stenosis. Vein quality is an important factor in the development of graft stenoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Studies, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horrocks
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology