Requirements for quantitative analysis of intimal reaction in arteries treated with intraluminal stents.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the reliability of quantitative histomorphometry measurements for the intimal reaction that occurs after intraluminal stenting in an animal model.


METHODS
Two self-expanding intravascular stents, a biodegradable poly-D/L-lactic acid (PLA) stent and a stainless steel Wallstent, were implanted in the common iliac arteries of a beagle dog. After 45 days, the histomorphometry of the stented iliac artery segments was quantitatively measured. The relative standard error (RSE) of the estimate was calculated, and the reliability of measurements for maximal (LDmax) and minimal (LDmin) luminal diameters and internal (IELT) and external (EELT) elastic lamina thicknesses was assessed.


RESULTS
The PLA stent required more measurements of variables from a single slide to ensure reliable (RSE<10%) results (1 for LDmax, 1 for LDmin, 8 for IELT, and 4 for EELT) compared to the Wallstent (1 for LDmax, 1 for LDmin, 2 for IELT, and 2 for EELT 2). The measured results were reliable for both stent materials when variables were measured from 2 slides of each segment (proximal/central/distal) of the stent.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that these preliminary measurements to estimate the reliability of quantitative histomorphometry measurements should be made and reported before final results are given.
Uurto
Ilkka
I
Research Unit, Departments of Radiology and Surgery, Tampere University Hospital and Medical School, Tampere, Finland. ilkka.uurto@uta.fi
Juuti
Hanne
H
Parkkinen
Jyrki
J
Kellomäki
Minna
M
Keski-Nisula
Leo
L
Nevalainen
Timo
T
Törmälä
Pertti
P
Salenius
Juha-Pekka
JP
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D007083:Iliac Artery; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011336:Probability; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials