External beam irradiation following balloon angioplasty in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of external beam irradiation on the morphometry of both angioplasted and nonangioplasted arteries in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model.


METHODS
Four groups of rabbit femoral arteries were studied: arteries (a) with no intervention, (b) irradiated with a 12-Gy x-ray dose, (c) treated with balloon angioplasty, and (d) dosed with 12 Gy 30 min after balloon angioplasty.


RESULTS
External irradiation did not change vessel morphometry in nonangioplasted arteries. On the contrary, it induced neointimal formation and decreased luminal area, without causing any vessel remodeling in arteries treated with balloon angioplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
External irradiation at 12 Gy given 30 min after angioplasty in the studied model accentuated the neointimal response to vascular injury, without causing any vessel remodeling.
Kalef-Ezra
J
J
Department of Medical Physics, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece. jkalef@cc.uoi.gr
Michalis
L K
LK
Tsekeris
P
P
Gloutsianou
G
G
Katsouras
C
C
Vardakas
D
D
Boziari
A
A
Toumpoulis
G
G
Nikou
D
D
Malamou-Mitsi
V
V
Sideris
D A
DA
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy