Late arterial responses (6 and 12 months) after (32)P beta-emitting stent placement: sustained intimal suppression with incomplete healing.
BACKGROUND
Three-month studies of stent-delivered brachytherapy in the rabbit model show reduced neointimal growth. However, intimal healing is delayed, raising the possibility that intimal inhibition is merely delayed rather than prevented. The purpose of this study was to explore the long-term histological changes after placement of beta-emitting radioactive stents in normal rabbit iliac arteries.


RESULTS
Three-millimeter beta-emitting (32)P stents (6, 24, and 48 microCi) were placed in normal rabbit iliac arteries with nonradioactive stents as controls. Animals were euthanatized at 6 and 12 months, and histological assessment, morphometry, and analysis of endothelialization were performed. Morphometric measurements demonstrated a >50% reduction in intimal growth and percent lumen stenosis within 24- and 48-microCi stents versus control nonradioactive stents at both 6 and 12 months. However, the 24- and 48-microCi stents also showed delayed healing of the intimal surface, characterized by persistent fibrin thrombus with nonconfluent areas of matrix, incomplete endothelialization, and increased intimal cellular proliferation. Stent edge stenosis was present at 12 months in the 24- and 48-microCi stent groups, characterized by both intimal thickening and negative arterial remodeling.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibition of intimal growth is maintained 6 and 12 months after (32)P beta-emitting stent placement. However, delayed arterial healing, incomplete endothelialization, and edge effects are present.
Farb
A
A
Department of Cardiovascular Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, USA.
Shroff
S
S
John
M
M
Sweet
W
W
Virmani
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects
D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D005337:Fibrin