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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis
Published on: May 14, 2013
The effect of carotid stenting on rheological parameters, free radical production and platelet aggregation
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary. aszlo.szapary@aok.pte.hu
Insights
Carotid artery stenting can alter blood flow and increase platelet activity, potentially leading to stent issues in the first week. Antioxidant levels normalize by one month, suggesting a delayed recovery from oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Carotid artery stenting is a treatment for significant carotid stenosis.
- Potential risks include stent occlusion and restenosis due to abnormal rheology, platelet aggregation, and free radical production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in hemorheological parameters after carotid stenosis endovascular treatment.
- To evaluate alterations in platelet aggregation and catalase activity post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- 18 patients with significant carotid stenosis underwent endovascular treatment.
- Evaluated hemorheological parameters, platelet aggregation (epinephrine-, ADP-, collagen-induced), and catalase activity.
- Measurements taken before, immediately after, and 1, 2, 5 days, and 1 month post-intervention; patients received clopidogrel.
Main Results:
- Immediately post-stenting, hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC), whole blood viscosity (WBV), and plasma viscosity (PV) significantly decreased.
- By day 5, PFC, WBV, PV, red blood cell (RBC) aggregation, and ADP-induced platelet aggregation significantly increased.
- Catalase activity significantly elevated by 1 month post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Carotid stenting causes specific changes in hemorheological parameters and platelet aggregation.
- Abnormal rheological conditions and increased platelet activation are most pronounced in the first week, risking early stent occlusion.
- Oxidative stress, indicated by catalase activity, returned to baseline by one month.
Introduction:
Carotid artery stenting has become a possible treatment of significant carotid stenosis. The risk of stent occlusion and restenosis might be increased by abnormal rheological conditions amplified platelet aggregation and free radical production during the operation.
Aims:
The aim of our study was to assess the changes in hemorheological parameters, platelet aggregation, and catalase activity after endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis.
Methods:
18 patients (11 men, ages 68 +/- 9 years and 7 women, ages 62 +/- 8 years) suffering from significant carotid stenosis and treated with carotid endovascular intervention were examined. Alteration in hemorheological parameters as well as epinephrine-, ADP-, and collagen-induced platelet aggregation were evaluated. Antioxidant reserve was characterized by the determination of catalase activity. The measurements were carried out directly before and after the procedure and 1, 2, 5 days and 1 month following the intervention. Preceding the operation the patients were administered a maximum dose (300 mg) of clopidogrel.
Results:
Hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC) and whole blood-, and plasma viscosity values (WBV and PV) significantly decreased immediately after stenting (p<0.001). By the fifth day following the intervention the PFC, WBV, PV, red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and ADP-induced platelet aggregation significantly increased (p<0.0001) compared to values measured postprocedurally. At 1 month follow-up these parameters, except whole blood viscosity, decreased significantly compared to measurements made on the 5th day. On the other hand, catalase activity showed significant elevation by the end of the first month.
Conclusion:
Hemorheological parameters and platelet aggregation showed specific changes following carotid stenting. Abnormal changes of the rheological conditions and increasing platelet activation are the most pronounced in the first week following stenting, which may lead to early stent occlusion. Oxidative stress production returned to baseline levels only by the end of the first month.
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