Proliferative response in smooth muscle cells after angioplasty or insertion of self-expanding stents. An experimental study in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the early proliferative reaction of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the media of the artery following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), compared with the reaction on insertion of self-expandable stents.


METHODS
In 6 healthy pigs, one iliac artery was overdilated with an 8-mm diameter angioplasty balloon. A self-expanding Nitinol stent, OD 8 mm, was inserted into the contralateral iliac artery without previous dilatation. The nuclei of the proliferating SMC in the media of the artery were labelled by intravenous administration of 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine and cells in S-phase counted 24 h after the procedure.


RESULTS
The mean number of proliferating nuclei of the SMC increased significantly more after PTA (p < 0.05) than after the insertion of a stent.


CONCLUSIONS
Early proliferative reaction of the SMC is more pronounced after PTA than after insertion of the self-expanding stent.
Cwikiel
W
W
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Harnek
J
J
Zoucas
E
E
Stenram
U
U
D000497:Alloys; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol