Comparison of bare metal and statin-coated coils on rates of intra-aneurysmal tissue organization in a rat model of aneurysm.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with detachable coils has been accepted widely. Problems of coil compaction, recanalization and rare endothelialization at the aneurysm orifice are not yet solved. We investigated the efficacy of a simvastatin coating applied without any additional matrix to coils to accelerate thrombus organization in the cavity in a rat model of aneurysm. Twelve metal coils coated with simvastatin and 12 bare coils were inserted into the ligated external carotid arterial (ECA) sacs of rats. The ECA sacs were removed 2 or 4 weeks after the coils were implanted and examined by histology and immunohistochemical assay. The organized areas in the ECA sacs in the simvastatin group (73.6 ± 19.4%, 2 wk; 83.4 ± 11.1%, 4 wk) was significantly higher p = 0.003, 2 wk; p = 0.0004, 4 wk than the bare metal group at 2 and 4 weeks (20.5 ± 10.7%, 2 wk, p < 0.003; 37.4 ± 20.6%, 4 wk, p < 0.0004). Organized tissues that formed around the coils coated with simvastatin were characterized by an accumulation of cells positive for αSMA and collagen connective matrix. Tissues also were accompanied by marked formation of endothelium at the orifice of the ECA sac. We suggest that coating coils with simvastatin effectively accelerated organization within the aneurysms and endothelialization over the coil.