Biomechanical and morphological characterization of common iliac vein remodeling: Effects of venous reflux and hypertension

Abstract

The passive properties of the venous wall are important in the development of venous pathology. Increase in venous pressure due to retrograde flow (reflux) and obstruction of venous flow by intrinsic and extrinsic means are the two possible mechanisms for venous hypertension. Reflux is the prevailing theory in the etiology of venous insufficiency. The objective of this thesis is to quantify the passive biomechanical response and structural remodeling of veins subjected to chronic venous reflux and hypertension. To investigate the effects of venous reflux on venous mechanics, the tricuspid valve was injured chronically in canines by disrupting the chordae tendineae. The conventional inflation-extension protocol in conjunction with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was utilized to investigate the passive biomechanical response of both control common iliac veins (from 9 dogs) and common iliac veins subjected to chronic venous reflux and hypertension (from 9 dogs). The change in thickness and constituent composition as a result of chronic venous reflux and hypertension was quantified using multiphoton microscopy (MPM) and histological evaluation. Biomechanical results indicate that the veins stiffened and became less compliant when exposed to eight weeks of chronic venous reflux and hypertension. The mechanical stiffening was found to be a result of a significant increase in wall thickness (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in the collagen to elastin ratio (p < 0.05). After eight weeks of chronic reflux, the circumferential Cauchy stress significantly reduced (p < 0.05) due to wall thickening, but was not restored to control levels. This provided a useful model for development and further analysis of chronic venous insufficiency and assessment of possible intervention strategies.