Evaluation of arterialized vein graft permeability with Evans blue dye and iodine 125-labeled albumin

Abstract

This study measured endothelial permeability, quantitatively (with iodine 125-labeled albumin) and qualitatively (with Evans blue dye) in arterialized vein grafts in 9 adult dogs. In each dog, the right common carotid artery was ligated and arterial flow was reconstituted with a 5-cm bypass graft of right external jugular vein. Twenty-four hours before the dogs were killed, each dog received both 125I-labeled albumin (8 μCi/kg) and Evans blue dye (15 mg/kg) intravenously. After the dogs' death, each arterialized vein graft and each left external jugular vein (as control) was harvested and studied. Arterialized vein graft permeability was significantly increased over control at 1, 3, and 6 months (3 dogs at each interval). Scanning electron microscopy revealed confluent endothelium in all specimens. This increased permeability may play a role in vein graft atherosclerosis.