Assessing the Effects of Geniculate Artery Embolization in a Non-Surgical Animal Model of Osteoarthritis

• Published in: Journal of vascular and interventional radiology
• Main Authors: Uflacker, Andre B, Keefe, Nicole, Bruner, Evelyn T, Avery, Alexandra, Salzar, Robert, Henderson, Kyvory, Spratley, Meade, Nacey, Nicholas, Miller, Wilson, Grewal, Sukhdeep, Chahin, Jonathan, Safavian, Dana, Haskal, Ziv J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2022
• ISSN: 1535-7732

To create a non-surgical animal model of osteoarthritis (OA) to evaluate effects of embolotherapy during geniculate artery embolization. Fluoroscopy-guided injections of 700mg Sodium-Monoiodoacetate were made into the left stifle in 6 rams. Kinematic data were collected pre/post-induction. 10-weeks post-induction, subjects 1, 4-6 underwent MRI with dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE-MRI), and angiography (subjects 1, 3, 4-6) with angiographic scoring to identify regions with greatest disease severity for superselective embolization (75-250μm microspheres, subjects 1, 3, 4, and 6). Target vessel size was measured. 24-weeks after angiography, DCE-MRI, angiography, and euthanasia were performed and bilateral stifles harvested. Medial/lateral tibial and femoral condyles, patella and synovium samples were cut, preserved, decalcified, and scored with OARSI criteria. Stifle and synovium WORMS and MOST scores were obtained. Ktrans and extracellular volume fraction (ve) were calculated from DCE-MRI along lateral synovial regions of interest. Mean gross/microscopic pathological scores were elevated at 38/61. Mean synovitis score was elevated at 9.2. Mean pre/post-embolization angiographic scores were 5/3.8, respectively. Mean Superior/Transverse/Inferior Geniculate artery diameters(mm) were 3.1±1.21, 2.0±0.50, and 1.6±0.41. Mean Pre/post-embolization cartilage/synovitis scores were elevated at 35.13/73.3 and 5.5/9.2, respectively. Subjects 4-6 K /v values were elevated at 0.049/0.38, 0.074/0.53, and 0.065/0.51. Altered gait of the hind limb was observed in all subjects post-induction, with reduced joint mobility. No skin or osteonecrosis were observed. A non-surgical ovine animal knee OA model was created which allowed the collection of angiographic, histopathological, MRI and kinematic data were obtained to study the effects of geniculate artery embolization.