title: Ultrastructure of internal jugular vein defective valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the ultrastructure of intraluminal defects found in the internal jugular vein by using a scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a scanning electron microscopy, intraluminal septa and/or defective valves blocking the flow in the distal internal jugular vein of seven patients were studied together with the adjacent wall and compared with control specimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The internal jugular veins' wall showed a significant derangement of the endothelial layer as compared to controls. Surprisingly, no endothelial cells were found in the defective cusps, and the surface of the structure is covered by a fibro-reticular lamina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the lack of endothelial cells in the internal jugular vein intraluminal obstacles is a further abnormality found in course of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, our investigation cannot clarify whether this finding is primary or caused by progressive loss of endothelium in relation to altered haemodynamic forces and/or to a past post-thrombotic/inflammatory remodelling.
authors: Vascular Disease Center, University of Ferrara, Italy Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy paolozamboni@icloud.com.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Zamboni
authors: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Tisato
authors: Vascular Disease Center, University of Ferrara, Italy Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Menegatti
authors: Vascular Disease Center, University of Ferrara, Italy Vascular and Endovascular Unit, S. Anna University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Mascoli
authors: Vascular Disease Center, University of Ferrara, Italy Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gianesini
authors: IRCCS Neurosciences, Bologna, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Salvi
authors: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Secchiero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D010477:Perfusion; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055422:Venous Valves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: CCSVI; Venous valves; endothelial cell; internal jugular vein; intraluminal defects; scanning electron microscopy; truncular venous malformation; ultrastructure