Intramural neovascularization and haemorrhages are major long‐term effects of intravascularγ‐radiation after stenting

Structural changes that might influence the structural integrity of the vessel in response to intravascular brachytherapy (IVB) and stenting were examined, focus being on the importance of neovascularization in rabbit stented arteries. Stents were implanted in the infrarenal aortas of rabbits, immediately followed by gamma IVB or a sham radiation procedure, and the arteries harvested at 6 months. Labelling for von Willebrand factor showed an increase in adventitial and medial neovascularization in irradiated versus control arteries group (5.04+/-0.89 versus 1.51+/-0.23 mm(-2), respectively; p=0.004). Moreover, intramedial haemorrhages (free hemosiderin deposition) and inflammation (macropha…