Technical Details:
Autologous vein grafts are the most widely used conduits for coronary and peripheral arterial bypass surgery. Compared to arterial grafts, vein grafts suffer significantly higher failure rates that limit their clinical efficacy. The pathophysiology of graft occlusion varies with graft age, with acute graft occlusion due to thrombosis, subacute graft failure due to hyperplasia, and late graft failure due to atherosclerosis. Thrombin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of all three phases of vein graft failure in the arterial environment and the level of Thrombomodulin expression is reduced early after vein transplant. JHU researchers have shown that adenoviral-mediated restoration of Thrombomodulin expression in vein grafts improves thromboresistance and reduces early vein graft failure.
Looking for Partners:
This technology provides a method for reducing early vein graft failure and a potential treatment for patients with vein graft disease.
