Proliferative response in smooth muscle cells after angioplasty or insertion of self-expanding stents

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluation of the early proliferative reaction of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the media of the artery following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), compared with the reaction on insertion of self-expandable stents.

Material and Methods: In 6 healthy pigs, one iliac artery was overdilated with an 8-mm diameter angioplasty balloon. A self-expanding Nitinol stent, OD 8 mm, was inserted into the contralateral iliac artery without previous dilatation. The nuclei of the proliferating SMC in the media of the artery were labelled by intravenous administration of 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine and cells in S-phase counted 24 h after the procedure.

Results: The mean number of proliferating nuclei of the SMC increased significantly more after PTA (p<0.05) than after the insertion of a stent.

Conclusion: Early proliferative reaction of the SMC is more pronounced after PTA than after insertion of the self-expanding stent.