Abstract
Introduction: Cryopreserved venous allografts are considered as possible alternative to autologous venous grafts in peripheral bypass surgery. Neointima formation is responsible for poorer patency. For a better understanding of this process we investigated allogeneic and autologous venous grafts in arterial position by histologic means. Materials and Methods: Allogeneic and autologous venous graft stenosis were examined by Ki67, CD31, CD34, CD3, CD20, vWF, CD68, actin, vimentin and desmin. Results: The morphological Examination of autologous and cryopreserved allogeneic grafts appears very uniform. Dedifferentiated vascular smooth muscle cells are the main cellular effector in both grafts. Neoangiogenesis is abundant in the vessel media whereas immunologic infiltrates are largely absent. Conclusion: The uniform morphological appearance of allogeneic and autologous neointimal hyperplasia suggests an overreaction in venous grafts in response to non-immunological factors as reason for poorer clinical outcome of cryopreserved allografts.
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