Affiliations: [a]
Department of Operative Techniques and Surgical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| [b]
Kalman Laki Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| [c]
Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| [d]
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Norbert Nemeth MD, PhD, DSc, Department of Operative Techniques and Surgical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Moricz Zs. str. 22, Hungary. Tel.: +36 52 416 915; E-mail: nemeth@med.unideb.hu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are vascular anomalies characterized by abnormal shunting between arteries and veins. The progression of the AVMs and their hemodynamic and rheological relations are poorly studied, and there is a lack of a feasible experimental model. OBJECTIVE:To establish a model that cause only minimal micro-rheological alterations, compared to other AV models. METHODS:Sixteen female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and AVM groups. End-to-end anastomoses were created between the saphenous veins and arteries to mimic AVM nidus. Hematological and hemorheological parameters were analyzed before surgery and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th postoperative weeks. RESULTS:Compared to sham-operated Control group the AVM group did not show important alterations in hematological parameters nor in erythrocyte aggregation and deformability. However, slightly increased aggregation and moderately decreased deformability values were found, without significant differences. The changes normalized by the 12th postoperative week. CONCLUSIONS:The presented rat model of a small-caliber AVM created on saphenous vessels does not cause significant micro-rheological changes. The alterations found were most likely related to the acute phase reactions and not to the presence of a small-caliber shunt. The model seems to be suitable for further studies of AVM progression.
