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Vasa Vasorum Arteriopathy: Relationship With Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Other Vascular Lesions in Cats
R Kohnken1, B A Scansen2, C Premanandan1
11 Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Insights
Vasa vasorum arteriopathy in cats strongly correlates with systemic hypertension and kidney arteriosclerosis. This vascular condition is a significant indicator of great vessel integrity, particularly in hypertensive cats.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Arterial Disease
Background:
- The vasa vasorum (VV) supplies nutrients to large arteries; dysfunction is implicated in human aortic dissection and atherosclerosis.
- VV arteriopathy is recognized as a potential contributor to vascular disease.
- Understanding VV in non-human species can provide insights into comparative vascular pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between vasa vasorum arteriopathy and systemic hypertension in cats.
- To assess the relationship between VV arteriopathy and other cardiovascular and renal lesions.
- To determine the predictive value of VV arteriopathy for hypertension and great vessel disease in a feline population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 24 cats (1-18 years) divided into hypertensive, non-hypertensive, and uncertain cohorts.
- Histologic examination of aorta, pulmonary artery, kidney, and lung by two pathologists.
- Blind assessment of vasa vasorum arteriopathy severity and comparison with renal arteriosclerosis, aortic medial degeneration, and pulmonary artery lesions.
Main Results:
- Vasa vasorum arteriopathy showed a strong correlation with hypertensive status (84.6% positive predictive value for severe VV score).
- VV arteriopathy was highly sensitive (100%) for predicting renal arteriosclerosis.
- Severe VV score predicted aortic lesions (69.2%) and main pulmonary artery lesions (91.6%).
Conclusions:
- Vasa vasorum arteriopathy is a significant indicator of systemic hypertension in cats.
- Arteriopathy of the vasa vasorum is closely linked to renal arteriosclerosis and lesions in the great vessels.
- The vasa vasorum serves as a crucial vascular bed responding to hypertension, impacting great vessel integrity in felines.
Abstract:
The vasa vasorum is a delicate network of small arterioles that supplies nutrients to the adventitia and outer media of large arteries. In humans, dysfunction of the vasa vasorum contributes to the pathogenesis of aortic dissection and atherosclerosis. Twenty-four cats from 1 to 18 years of age were prospectively evaluated. Cases were divided into 3 cohorts-with systemic hypertension, without systemic hypertension, and uncertain. Histologic sections of the aorta and main pulmonary artery, as well as sections of kidney and lung, were blindly examined by 2 pathologists. The severity of vasa vasorum arteriopathy was compared to the presence of renal arteriosclerosis, aortic medial degeneration, subintimal fibroplasia of the main pulmonary artery, and blood pressure. We found that vasa vasorum arteriopathy correlated strongly with hypertensive status, degree of renal arteriosclerosis, and lesions in the great vessels. The positive predictive value of a severe vasa vasorum score for systemic hypertension was 84.6%. Lesions of vasa vasorum arteriopathy were predictive of renal arteriosclerosis with 100% sensitivity and 64.7% specificity. The positive predictive value of a severe vasa vasorum score for the presence of aortic lesions was 69.2% vs 91.6% for lesions in the main pulmonary artery. The vasa vasorum appears to be an important responder to systemic hypertension in cats, and arteriopathy of this vascular bed has significant implications for the integrity of the great vessels.
