Mechanisms in experimental venous valve failure and their modification by Daflon 500 mg.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the acute response of the vein wall to venous hypertension and associated altered fluid shear stress and to test the effect of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF, Daflon 500), on this response.


METHODS
A femoral arteriovenous fistula was created in Wistar rats (n=48). A cohort of 24 rats received oral treatment with MPFF (100 mg/kg/day body weight), 24 rats underwent the arteriovenous fistula procedure and received no treatment. At days 1, 7 and 21 the animals (n=8 at each time point) were killed. Experimental parameters measured included limb circumference, blood flow at the sapheno-femoral junction, leukocyte infiltration and gelatinase activity (matrix metalloproteinase, MMP).


RESULTS
The acute rise in venous hypertension was accompanied by limb edema and venous reflux together with an eventual loss of valve leaflets in the saphenous vein. There was an increase in granulocyte and macrophage infiltration into the venous wall and the surrounding tissue, and a lesser increase in T- and B-lymphocyte infiltration. These changes were accompanied by a local increase in the proteolytic enzymes, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Administration of MPFF reduced the edema and lessened the venous reflux produced by the acute arteriovenous fistula. Decreased levels of granulocyte and macrophage infiltration into the valves were also observed compared with untreated animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Venous hypertension caused by an arteriovenous fistula resulted in the development of venous reflux and an inflammatory reaction in venous valves culminating in their destruction. MPFF was able to delay the development of reflux and suppress damage to the valve structures in this rat model of venous hypertension.
Pascarella
L
L
Department of Surgery University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Lulic
D
D
Penn
A H
AH
Alsaigh
T
T
Lee
J
J
Shin
H
H
Kapur
V
V
Bergan
J J
JJ
Schmid-Schönbein
G W
GW
D000818:Animals; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D004145:Diosmin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014690:Venous Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004145:Diosmin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9