An experimental study of endovascular brachytherapy using liquid 32P filled balloon catheter.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of endovascular brachytherapy on the prevention of restenosis after interveneional therapy and to investigate its possible mechanisms. METHODS: In the balloon-injuried rabbit model, pathological sections of iliac arteries were observed and the changes of vascular histomorphology were estimated by computer analysis of photomicrograms. Using immunohistochemical techniques, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was quantified to assess the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. RESULTS: After rabbit iliac arteries were injured by balloon overstretch angioplasty, neointima were shown to be less proliferative in the irradiated group than in the control group, from PCNA scores. The formation of neointima was suppressed with the external elastic laminar area increasing and without the luminal area decreasing in the irradiation group. CONCLUSION: Endovascular brachytherapy using a liquid 32P filled balloon catheter system could prevent restenosis possibly by inhibiting the formation of neointima and improving positive vascular remodeling.