title: Heparin coupling in inhibition of calcification of vascular bioprostheses.
abstract: Inhibitory effect of heparin coupling on calcification of bioprosthetic vascular grafts of different origin was studied. Heparin-bonded (Hep) and 0.625% glutaraldehyde-cross-linked (GA) segments of porcine thoracic aorta (AO), pulmonary artery (PA), jugular vein (JV) and rabbit aorta (RA) were implanted subcutaneously in weanling rats for 5 months. Heparin bonding is ineffective in prevention of calcification of JV (Hep: Ca, 159 +/- 32.26 mg g-1; GA: Ca, 193.55 +/- 17.81; p = 0.075) and RA (Hep: Ca, 150.17 +/- 14.78; GA: Ca, 192.12 +/- 26.61; p = 0.015). Calcium content of heparin-coupled PA and AO was significantly less when compared with their GA-treated counterparts. Calcification inhibition was achieved to a greater extent in heparin-bonded PA (Hep: Ca = 22.62 +/- 5.72, GA: Ca = 115.99 +/- 21.91, p < 0.0001) than in the AO coupled to heparin (Hep: Ca = 63.77 +/- 22.75, GA: Ca = 150.40 +/- 35.21, p < 0.0001). Elastin fibers were the predominant site of calcification in all explanted vascular grafts. Heparin-bonded porcine pulmonary artery is seemed to be the best among all vascular bioprostheses in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan. Jyotirmay_Chanda@ocgateway.amc.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuribayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D005976:Glutaral; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000473:pathology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006493:Heparin; D002118:Calcium; D005976:Glutaral