ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with VEGF gene in the treatment of limb ischemia in rabbits.Methods The right hind limb ischemia model of New Zealand rabbit was established by superficial femoral artery excision and deep femoral artery ligation.Rabbits then were divided randomly into 4 groups: empty plasmid control group(EP group),bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells group(BMSC group),VEGF gene therapy group(VEGF group),combination bone mesenchymal stem cells and VEGF gene therapy group(BV group).There were 8 rabbits in each group.Angiogenesis was detected by arteriography on day 28 after treatment and expression of VEGF was detected by immunohistochemical staining on day 30 after treatment.Results There were no differences of collateral vessel count between the EP group,BMSC group and VEGF group.The collateral vessel count in BV group was higher than that of the other three groups.Immunohistochemistry of VEGF showed that the integrated optical density(IOD)in BMSC and VEGF groups increased significantly compared with the EP group; the IOD in BV group was the highest compared with the other three groups.Conclusions Combination bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and VEGF gene in the treatment of limb ischemia in rabbits can obtain stable and effective expression of VEGF along with significant improvement of limb ischemia.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the feasibility of catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase for treating non-acute (less than 14 days) deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 110 patients who were treated by catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase for lower extremity deep venous thrombosis was analysed. Adjunctive angioplasty or/and stenting was performed for the residual stenosis. Venous recanalization was graded by pre- and post-treatment venography. Follow-up was performed by clinical evaluation and Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 112 limbs with deep venous thrombosis with a mean symptom duration of 22.7 days (range: 15-38 days) were treated with a urokinase infusion (mean: 3.5 million IU) for a mean of 196 hours. After thrombolysis, stent placement was performed in 25 iliac vein lesions and percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) alone was done in five iliac veins. Clinically significant recanalization was achieved in 81% (90 of 112) of the treated limbs; complete recanalization was achieved in 28% (31 of 112) and partial recanalization was achieved in 53% (59 of 112). Minor bleeding occurred in 14 (13%) patients, but none of the patients suffered from major bleeding or symptomatic pulmonary embolism. During follow-up (mean: 15.2 months, range: 3-24 months), the veins were patent in 74 (67%) limbs. Thirty seven limbs (32%) showed progression of the stenosis with luminal narrowing more than 50%, including three with rethrombosis, while one revealed an asymptomatic iliac vein occlusion; 25 limbs (22%) developed mild post-thrombotic syndrome, and none had severe post-thrombotic syndrome. Valvular reflux occurred in 24 (21%) limbs. CONCLUSION: Catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase combined with adjunctive iliac vein stenting is safe and effective for removal of the clot burden and for restoration of the venous flow in patients with non-acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.