Embolization materials made of gelatin: comparison between Gelpart and gelatin microspheres.

Purpose: The object of this study was to assess the level of embolization in the embolized artery and the degradation period of these two embolic agents in the renal arteries using rabbit models.

Materials And Methods: The renal artery was embolized using 5 mg of gelatin microspheres (GMSs; diameter, 35-100 mum; group 1) or 1 mg of Gelpart (diameter, 1 mm; group 2). For each group, angiographies were performed on two kidneys immediately after the embolic procedure and on days 3, 7, and 14 after embolization. This was followed by histopathological examinations of the kidneys.

Results: Follow-up angiograms on each day revealed the persistence of poorly enhanced wedge-shaped areas in the parenchymal phase in all cases. In group 1, four of six cases showed poorly enhanced small areas in the follow-up angiograms. In group 2, all cases showed poorly enhanced large areas. In the histopathological specimens, it was observed that immediately after embolization, the particles reached the interlobular arteries in group 1 and the interlobar arteries in group 2. In all cases in group 1, the particles were histologically identified even on day 14. In one case in group 2 on day 14, the particles were not identified.

Conclusion: In conclusion, although GMSs and Gelpart were similar in the point of gelatin particles, the level of embolization and the degradation period were different between GMSs and Gelpart.