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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
The Rabbit Model of Accelerated Atherosclerosis: A Methodological Perspective of the Iliac Artery Balloon Injury
Published on: October 3, 2017
Inhibition of in-stent restenosis in rabbit iliac arteries with photodynamic therapy
Objectives:
Photodynamic therapy (PDT, the combination of light with a photosensitising drug in the presence of oxygen) inhibits restenosis after angioplasty without stenting. This study assesses the potential of PDT for prevention of in-stent re-stenosis.
Design And Methods:
Normal rabbits were given the photosensitising agent 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) 60 mg/kg, 3 h prior to endovascular illumination of the iliac artery (635 nm at 50 J/cm(2)) either immediately before or after deployment of an oversized (3 mm diameter) stent. PDT treated arteries were retrieved 3 or 28 days later and assessed for cell counts and vascular morphometry. Control arteries (stent but no PDT) were examined at 28 days.
Results:
There were no adverse events and all vessels were patent at the end of the study. At 3 days there was almost complete medial cell ablation when light was delivered before stent deployment (17+/-1 cells/hpf), with little effect when illumination followed stent deployment (184+/-17 cells/hpf, p<0.0001). Twenty-eight days after PDT, the neointimal areas were 1.41+/-0.52 mm(2) (stent with no PDT), 1.24+/-0.54 mm(2) (light after stent) and 0.60+/-0.21 mm(2) (light before stent) (p=0.004).
Conclusions:
PDT before stent deployment caused almost complete medial cell ablation at 3 days with inhibition of in-stent restenosis at 28 days. PDT is worthy of further study as an adjuvant to percutaneous intervention in patients with vascular disease.
Insights
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) before stenting significantly reduced medial cell ablation and inhibited in-stent restenosis in rabbits. This suggests PDT is a promising adjuvant therapy for vascular interventions.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology and interventional cardiology.
Background:
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is known to inhibit restenosis post-angioplasty without stenting.
- The efficacy of PDT in preventing in-stent restenosis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the potential of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the prevention of in-stent restenosis.
Main Methods:
- Rabbits received 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) followed by endovascular illumination before or after stent deployment.
- Arteries were analyzed for cell counts and vascular morphometry at 3 and 28 days post-PDT.
Main Results:
- PDT delivered before stent deployment resulted in near-complete medial cell ablation at 3 days.
- In-stent restenosis was significantly inhibited at 28 days when PDT preceded stent deployment (0.60 mm²) compared to controls (1.41 mm²).
Conclusions:
- PDT administered before stent placement effectively ablates medial cells and prevents in-stent restenosis.
- PDT shows potential as an adjunctive treatment for percutaneous interventions in patients with vascular disease.
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