Endovascular Treatment with Platinum Coils. Recanalization is Associated with Early Increased von Willebrand Factor mRNA.

Recanalization after coil occlusion is a concern for long-term results of endovascular treatment. Knowledge of molecular events following coil occlusion and recanalization could help design specific strategies to promote permanent occlusion. Platinum coils were implanted into canine maxillary, vertebral or lingual arteries. Coil occlusion (treatment 1), routinely followed by recanalization was compared with two strategies to prevent recanalization: beta radiation using (32)P coils (treatment 2) and endothelial denudation, using an endovascular device, followed by coil occlusion (treatment 3). The evolution of initial complete occlusions was followed by angiography and pathology at three months. Levels of messenger RNA of vWF (von Willebrand factor), SMA (smooth muscle actin), CD14, CD31 (or PECAM-1: Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1), PDGFBB (platelet-derived growth factor), TGF-b1 (transforming growth factor), MCP-1 (macrophage chemoattractant protein), Angiopoietins, Metalloproteinases-9, 14 and inhibitors (TIMP- 2, 4) were followed by Reverse Transcription and Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Analyses were performed one, four, seven and 14 days after coiling, and levels of expression after the three treatments were compared using ANOVAs. Intact arteries treated with platinum coils routinely recanalize (100%), but arteries treated by denudation and coiling or with radioactive coils recanalize in only 17% and 4% respectively (P<.001). Recanalization was associated with increased levels of vWF mRNA at seven days, a finding that was not observed with denudation or radiation (P=.015). There was no other significant difference. Recanalization is associated with early vWF expression, perhaps reflecting the development of endothelialized channels through thrombus formed after coil occlusion.