Inhibition of Lysyl Oxidase with β-aminopropionitrile Improves Venous Adaptation after Arteriovenous Fistula Creation.

Background: The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred hemodialysis access for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Yet, establishment of a functional AVF presents a challenge, even for the most experienced surgeons, since postoperative stenosis frequently occludes the AVF. Stenosis results from the loss of compliance in fibrotic areas of the fistula which turns intimal hyperplasia into an occlusive feature.

Assessment of micro-mechanical variations in experimental arteriovenous fistulae using atomic force microscopy.

Purpose: This study presents a method to quantify micro-stiffness variations in experimental arteriovenous fistulae (AVF).

Methods: AVF created by anastomosing the superficial epigastric vein to the femoral artery in Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to remodel for 21 days before being harvested and preserved in culture medium. A custom atomic force microscope was used to measure microvascular stiffness (Young's modulus) in three areas of the AVF: the inflow artery, the juxta-anastomotic area, and the outflow vein.