Ultrasound echogenicity in experimental venous thrombosis.

This study characterizes the echogenicity of experimentally induced venous thrombosis. Venous duplex imaging (Diasonics Spectra) was performed of the rat (n 12) and primate (n 3) inferior vena cava (IVC). Thrombosis was induced by IVC ligation at the level of the renal veins (rat, baboon) or balloon occlusion (baboon) of the IVC at the renal vein and iliac vein bifurcation level. Sham-treated rats served as controls. B-mode images were stored for off-line computer analysis. Fixed depth gain control curves allowed for measuring gain-corrected echogenicity units over the IVC in both a longitudinal and transverse orientation. In rat studies, thrombus was removed at time of euthanasia and dissolved, allowing for fibrin monomer determination using a chromogenic assay. Echogenicity values generally increased over time in both rat and primate studies. Significant differences between ligated and sham-treated rats were noted at each time point measured (6 h, 2 days, and 6 days after IVC ligation) and fibrin monomer values correlated (p < 0.05) with echogenicity units. In primate studies, echogenicity values significantly were different from baseline values at all time points measured (6 h, 2 days, 6 days, and 13 days after thrombus induction). Duplex ultrasound can be used to quantitate thrombus echogenicity, which correlates to fibrin content. Such measurement may potentially allow for improved thrombus age determination and the noninvasive quantitation of thrombus progression/resolution.

Low-dose low-molecular-weight heparin is anti-inflammatory during venous thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Venous thrombosis results in a vein wall inflammatory response initiated by thrombus. Although anticoagulation with standard heparin (SH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is known to limit further thrombosis, their anti-inflammatory properties are poorly defined. The anti-inflammatory properties of these heparins were studied. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups and underwent inferior vena caval (IVC) ligation just below the renal level producing IVC thrombosis. One hour before ligation, animals received subcutaneous SH or LMWH at either high or low dose; normal saline (NS) was used as control. Six hours after ligation, animals were killed, and the IVCs were analyzed for clot presence, vein wall morphometrics, and vein wall permeability (VP) to define injury. RESULTS: Animals in both low-dose groups had no measurable anticoagulation, whereas those in both high-dose groups were adequately anticoagulated. There were statistically less IVC neutrophils for all groups compared with the control group, with low-dose LMWH showing the least cells (low-dose LMWH, 16 +/- 3; high-dose LMWH, 37 +/- 10; low-dose SH, 37 +/- 6; high-dose SH, 32 +/- 9; NS control, 63 +/- 2). Similar results were noted for total inflammatory cells. The lowest VP was noted for low-dose LMWH. CONCLUSION: Although both SH and LMWH inhibited vein wall neutrophils and total inflammatory cells, low-dose LMWH was most effective limiting neutrophil extravasation and was the only intervention to decrease VP below control levels. This occurred without preventing thrombus formation or causing a state of anticoagulation. Low-dose LMWH possesses anti-inflammatory properties distinct from its anticoagulant properties.

IL-10 regulates thrombus-induced vein wall inflammation and thrombosis.

Vein wall inflammation associated with venous thrombosis is mediated by an imbalance in proinflammatory as compared with antiinflammatory molecules. We hypothesize that IL-10 is an important antiinflammatory cytokine that influences vein wall inflammation and thrombus propagation during venous thrombosis. To test this hypothesis a model of inferior vena caval thrombosis was used. Studies were performed at sacrifice 2 days after thrombus induction and included leukocyte morphometrics, myeloperoxidase activity, vein wall permeability, thrombus weight, and IL-10 ELISA analysis from the vein wall. IL-10 was elevated in the vein wall during venous thrombosis. Neutralization of IL-10 increased inflammation, while supplementation with rIL-10 demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent decrease in inflammation. Interestingly, a low 2.5-microg rIL-10 dose given at time of initiation of thrombosis most significantly decreased inflammation. Thrombus weight was importantly diminished by reconstitution of IL-10. These studies support an important role for IL-10 in the regulation of thrombus-associated inflammation and thrombosis and suggest that IL-10 could be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of venous thrombosis.

"Bull's-eye" sign on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance venography determines thrombus presence and age: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Venous thrombosis is associated with a significant inflammatory response, which can be visualized by gadolinium magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Gadolinium extravasates into tissue during inflammation, producing perithrombus enhancement on magnetic resonance scanning. This study determines (1) whether gadolinium enhancement occurs during deep venous thrombosis (DVT); and (2) whether this enhancement changes with time and can therefore establish the age of thrombus. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of iliofemoral DVT by duplex ultrasound who were referred for MRV to document central thrombus extent were studied. T1 weighted images were obtained before and after gadolinium injection (0.1 mmol/kg); repeat scans were obtained up to 3 months thereafter. At the level of maximum thrombus, measurements of signal intensity were made at the periphery (rim), and the center of the thrombosed vein, as well as the contralateral normal vein, on images after gadolinium enhancement. Rim-center vein signal intensity ratios were then calculated and followed. RESULTS: A total of 39 scans were obtained in 14 patients (eight men, six women). The thrombosed veins were enlarged, with a peripheral rim of enhancement ("bull's-eye" sign). The rim-center ratio for thrombosed veins (2.16 +/- 0.18) was different from that of normal veins (0.66 +/- 0.10; n = 39; p < 0.001). For all acute studies (< or = 14 days) the rim-center ratio was 2.38 +/- 0.17 (n = 31), whereas for all chronic studies (> 14 days) the rim-center ratio was 1.29 +/- 0.44 (n = 8; p = 0.001). Among patients who underwent both early and late studies, the rim-center ratio dropped significantly, from 2.33 +/- 0.20 acutely to 1.29 +/- 0.44 in chronic studies (n = 8; p = 0.03). One patient with active malignancy had a paradoxic increase in rim-center ratio over time and a clinical recurrence of symptoms, suggesting active thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that (1) a pattern of peripheral gadolinium enhancement (bull's-eye sign) is seen around acutely thrombosed veins on gadolinium-enhanced MRV, facilitating DVT diagnosis; and (2) the ratio of signal intensity at the rim versus the center of the thrombosed vein may be a good discriminator of acute compared with chronic DVT, which may help direct therapy.

Anti-P-selectin antibody decreases inflammation and thrombus formation in venous thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Venous thrombosis and inflammation are interrelated. P-selectin contributes to activation of leukocyte-mediated inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that the neutralization of P-selectin would decrease vein wall inflammation and thrombosis. METHODS: Twelve baboons underwent infrarenal inferior vena caval balloon occlusion to induce thrombosis. Two groups of four baboons received neutralizing intravenous anti-P-selectin antibody (PSab) GA6 or CY1748 before occlusion and at days 2 and 4. Four baboons received saline control injections. One baboon per group was killed at days 2, 6, and 13, and at 2 months. Analysis included phlebography, ultrasound, gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced magnetic resonance venography (reflecting vein wall inflammation), and histologic, morphometric, and protein evaluation of the vein wall. Thrombus presence or absence was assessed. RESULTS: By day 2 in PSab baboons, vein wall Gd enhancement was decreased in the mid-inferior vena cava and the right iliac vein (p < 0.05; GA6 vs control baboons), normalizing by 2 months. The mid-inferior vena cava revealed fewer neutrophils and total leukocytes in PSab baboons; however, for GA6 in the right iliac vein these decreases were not present despite the absence of Gd enhancement; they were decreased with CY1748. PSab baboons demonstrated significantly less thrombus than control baboons (p < 0.01, GA6 and CY1748 vs control baboons). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-P-selectin antibody decreases vein wall inflammation and thrombus formation. Inhibition of P-selectin may be useful in venous thrombosis prophylaxis.

Comparison of the hemodynamic and hematologic toxicity of a protamine variant after reversal of low-molecular-weight heparin anticoagulation in a canine model.

Using the dog as an animal model, we developed an experimental preparation to compare hemodynamic and hematologic toxicity of anticoagulation reversal. Currently, protamine sulfate reversal of standard unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulation causes adverse side effects, including decreased systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP), decreased cardiac output (CO), decreased oxygen consumption (VO2), and thrombocytopenia. In addition, standard protamine is only marginally effective at reversing the factor Xa inhibition induced by LMWHs. We have produced protamine-like variant peptides to decrease the adverse responses attributed to standard protamine. The hemodynamic, hematologic, and coagulation effects of standard protamine and the protamine variant (+18RGD) were assessed after reversal of LMWH anticoagulation in anesthetized dogs. Flow probes and vascular catheters were surgically implanted for measurement of hemodynamic parameters including MAP, CO, VO2, and heart rate (HR). Hematologic studies (platelet and white blood cell counts) and coagulation studies (activated clotting time [ACT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], thrombin clotting time [TCT], antifactor Xa and antifactor IIa values) also were performed. The protamine variant +18RGD was less toxic, induced less thrombocytopenia, and was more effective in anticoagulation reversal than was standard protamine sulfate. Results of this study indicate that the dog may be a useful model for investigating important hemodynamic, hematologic, and coagulation parameters during reversal of LMWH anticoagulation by use of synthetic protamine variants.

Pathogenesis of venous thrombosis: a new insight.

Venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis have long been observed to result in painful inflammation around the affected veins. The full extent of the synergistic interaction between thrombosis and the inflammatory response and how this leads to the later sequelae of chronic venous insufficiency is only now beginning to be understood. Venous thrombosis is known directly to elicit an inflammatory response in the thrombus and vein wall. Leukocytes including neutrophils and monocytes roll, adhere, activate and extravasate into the vein wall based on a vein wall cytokine/chemokine gradient producing an inflammatory response. Such a response leads to amplification of thrombus formation through mechanisms such as the elaboration of tissue factor on the surface of monocytes and the release of cathespin G from activated neutrophils (distrupting the endothelial cell barrier), exposing the thrombogenic subendothelial vein wall collagen. Selectins such as P-selectin and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor appear important in this vein wall response. Inhibition of inflammation before the initiation of the thrombotic event may decrease the detrimental vein wall changes that contribute to vein wall and vein valve damage and thrombus formation.

Neutrophils are the initial cell type identified in deep venous thrombosis induced vein wall inflammation.

Venous thrombosis and inflammation are interrelated. The authors hypothesized that inferior vena cava thrombosis results in a predictable vein wall inflammatory response, characterized by early neutrophil infiltration. Thrombosis was induced in rats by placement of an inferior vena cava ligature with branch ligation. Animals were killed at baseline, 6 hrs, day 2, and day 6. Analysis included vein wall morphometrics, myeloperoxidase activity, and fluorescence activated cell sorting. At 6 hrs, there was an increase in neutrophils and lymphocytes as compared to sham animals (p < 0.0001 for neutrophils, p < 0.05 for lymphocytes). By day 2, only neutrophils were elevated in the experimental groups (experimental = 75.5 cells/5 high power fields vs. 9.6 cells/ 5 high power fields in shams, p < 0.0001). Myeloperoxidase activity in the experimental group was greater than shams on day 2(34.7 delta optical density/min vs. 5.9 delta optical density/ min, p < 0.0001). Fluorescence activated cell sorting of the neutrophil marker at 6 hrs confirmed the increase in neutrophils (experimental = 63.1%, shams = 39.1%, p < 0.0001), and peaked on day 2 (71.9%). This study suggests that 1) neutrophils are elevated early during the inflammatory response due to thrombus initiation, and 2) neutrophils, because of their early predominance, likely contributed to vein wall injury during venous thrombosis.

P-selectin and TNF inhibition reduce venous thrombosis inflammation.

Venous thrombosis induces a detrimental inflammatory response in the vein wall. The cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and the adhesion molecules, selectins, have been found to be important in mediating inflammatory cell stimulation and leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion, respectively. This study assesses the role of TNF and P-selectin in the inflammatory events associated with venous thrombosis. Rats were passively immunized with neutralizing anti-TNF serum alone, anti-TNF plus anti-P-selectin antibody, anti-P-selectin antibody alone, control serum, or control anti-P-selectin antibody. Antibodies or control sera were given prior to occlusion and at Days 2 and 4 postocclusion. Rats were sacrificed at Days 1-6 and Day 13 after occlusion for inferior vena caval (IVC) wall histopathology and TNF analysis. Differences in the extent of inflammatory cell infiltrate into the vein wall were found on Days 2, 6, and 13. TNF levels were elevated in the vein wall of the three groups not given anti-TNF antibody. The levels of TNF at Day 6 positively correlated with both total inflammatory cell (r = 0.53, P < 0.05) and neutrophil presence (r = 0.72, P < 0.01). The lowest IVC wall neutrophil and total inflammatory cell count at Days 2 and 6 and the lowest neutrophil count at Day 13 were found in the anti-TNF plus anti-P-selectin antibody group. Monocyte influx was also inhibited at Day 13 in this group. These results suggest a role for combined neutralization of TNF and P-selectin in the attenuation of inflammation induced by venous thrombosis.

Some properties of acid-reassembled tropomyosin.

The preference for parallelism of the two chains in tropomyosin coiled coils is thought to result from interchain salt bridges. To examine this idea, studies are presented of tropomyosin molecules reassembled from chaotropic solvents in acid solution, where cross-links cannot exist. The acid-reassembled molecules are appreciably less disulfide cross-linkable in acid than native molecules, a result explainable if some antiparallel dimers indeed form at low pH. Physical studies (backbone- and tyrosine-region CD and intrinsic viscosity) indicate that refolding in acid yields a molecular population demonstrably different in tyrosine-region CD from native, but having comparable (but not identical) helix content, thermal stability, and dimensions. Moreover, the refolding in acid after either thermal or chaotropic-solvent denaturation yields the same final state, arguing that it is an equilibrium state. All these results are consistent with, but do not prove, that the acid-reassembled population includes an appreciable fraction (2/3) of antiparallel coiled-coil dimers.

Efficacy and toxicity of differently charged polycationic protamine-like peptides for heparin anticoagulation reversal.

PURPOSE: The role of total cationic charge of synthetic protamine-like peptides in heparin anticoagulation reversal and accompanying adverse hemodynamic effects was studied. METHODS: Five protamine variants having specific total charges of [+8], [+16], [+18], [+20], and [+21] were synthesized by fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl procedures. Each of these lysine-containing peptides plus arginine-containing control salmine native protamine (n-protamine, [+21] charge) was studied in five dogs who received heparin 150 IU/kg intravenously followed by 1.5 mg/kg (intravenously during a 10-second period) of the synthesized peptide or control n-protamine. RESULTS: Anticoagulation reversal as assessed by a number of coagulation tests was more effective with peptides of greater cationic charge. In this regard, activated clotting time reversal 3 minutes after peptide administration was 7%, [+8]; 54%, [+16]; 81%, [+18]; 92%, [+20]; 81%, [+21]; and greater than 100% [n-protamine]. Reversal of heparin anticoagulation at 3 and 30 minutes, respectively, correlated significantly (*p < or = 0.05, p < or = 0.01 [see corresponding symbols within abstract]) with total cationic charge as assessed by activated clotting time (r = 0.97, 0.99 ), prothrombin time (r = 0.98, 0.87*), activated partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.99, 0.78), thrombin clotting time (r = 0.84,* 0.85*), heparin anti-Xa activity (r = 0.87,* 0.85*), and heparin anti-IIa activity (r = 0.79 at 3 minutes, p = 0.06). Maximum declines in systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP) were greater with more positively charged peptides: -1 mm Hg, [+8]; -3 mm Hg, [+16]; -31 mm Hg; [+18]; -31 mm Hg, [+20]; -35 mm Hg, [+21]; and -34 mm Hg [n-protamine]. Maximum decreases in MAP, cardiac output, and systemic oxygen consumption were highly correlated (p < or = 0.05) with total cationic charge: MAP, r = 0.87; cardiac output, r = 0.87; and systemic oxygen consumption, r = 0.86. A total toxicity score, reflecting adverse hemodynamic effects, was greater with increasing charge: -1.9 +/- 1.1, [+8]; -2.7 +/- 0.8, [+16]; -6.6 +/- 3.3, [+18]; -6.1 +/- 3.5, [+20]; -6.9 +/- 3.8, [+21]; and -7.0 +/- 5.2 [n-protamine]. The correlation of mean peptide total toxicity score to total cationic charge was significant (r = 0.89, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest for the first time that effective alternatives to salmine protamine for reversal of heparin anticoagulation can be synthesized. Furthermore, total cationic charge appears to be an important determinant for both anticoagulation reversal and toxicity of protamine-like peptides.