Hypertension-induced venous valve remodeling

In human beings, chronic venous insufficiency is linked to venous hypertension. This in turn is associated with venous valve incompetence. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that venous hypertension serves to initiate a process that results in the venous valve and venous wall damage observed in venous insufficiency. Acute venous hypertension was produced by creation of an arteriovenous (AV) fistula between the femoral artery and vein in Wistar rats. At specified intervals pressure in the veins was recorded. The proximal valve containing saphenous vein was exposed, and reflux was measured from reverse blood flow through the first proximal valve. The vein was excised, valve parameters were measured, a portion was taken for morphologic investigation, and the remaining specimen was frozen in liquid nitrogen for investigation of leukocyte infiltration, expression of adhesion molecules, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels, and apoptotic markers. Contralateral nonpressurized saphenous veins were used as control specimens. The saphenous and femoral veins were immediately distended by pulsatile blood flow from the arterial system. Pressure was significantly increased from 11 ± 2 mm Hg to 94 ± 9 mm Hg. At 2 days no reflux was detected in the saphenous veins. At 1 week, one of four rats exhibited reflux; at 2 weeks, two of four rats had reflux; and at 3 weeks, three of four rats showed reflux. Contralateral saphenous veins were uniformly competent. Compared with control specimens, the veins were dilated; leaflet length and leaflet width were significantly reduced. Granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages were identified in all regions of the vein wall, and the number was increased by the presence of the AV fistula. The number of T-lymphocytes was increased, and B-lymphocytes were present. P-selectin was upregulated in the saphenous vein walls, as was intercellular adhesion molecules. MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in the veins was not enhanced. In the nuclear factor κβ family, Iκβ was not increased in any hypertensive veins. The number of apoptotic cells in the vein wall was increased in the presence of the AV fistula. This study indicates that acute venous hypertension is accompanied by significant venous distention and some valve damage as early as 3 weeks after fistula creation. There is development of inflammatory markers, with leukocyte infiltration and increased adhesion molecule expression. We could not detect significant enhancement of MMP levels or