Av. Sterpetti et al., GROWTH-FACTOR PRODUCTION AFTER POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE AND VEIN ARTERIAL GRAFTING - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY, Journal of vascular surgery, 23(3), 1996, pp. 453-460
Purpose: Occlusion caused by myointimal hyperplasia appears to be the
main reason of late failure of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) arterial
bypass grafts. Evidence exists that growth factors are involved in th
e genesis of myointimal hyperplasia. The aim of this study was to asse
ss the release of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and basic fibr
oblastic growth factor (bFGF) by PTFE arterial grafts. Methods: In 15
inbred Lewis rats a 1 cm long segment of PTFE was interposed at the le
vel of the abdominal aorta. In a control group of another 15 Lewis rat
s a vein graft was implanted at the level of the abdominal aorta. Anim
als were killed 4 weeks after implantation and the tissue was studied
in organ culture for release of PDGF AA, PDGF BE, and bFGF. Results: P
TFE grafts released a greater quantity of PDGF AA than did control vei
n grafts (28 +/- 4 ng/cm(2)/72 hr vs 7 +/- 2 ng/cm(2)/72 hr). Similarl
y, PTFE grafts released a greater quantity of bFGF than did arterial v
ein grafts (308 +/- 22 ng/cm(2)/72 hr vs 204 +/- 20 ng/cm(2)/72 hr). C
onclusions: We conclude that PTFE arterial grafts release a high quant
ity of growth factor, which could explain, in part, the occurrence of
distal anastomotic myointimal hyperplasia.