Effects of Increased Intracranial Pressure Gradient on Cerebral Venous Infarction in Rabbits

World Neurosurg. 2018 Dec:120:e161-e168. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.07.264. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

Abstract

Background: Cerebral venous infarction (CVI) is a rare vascular disease most commonly caused by cerebral venous thrombosis that leads to hemorrhage or infarct formation. A rabbit model of CVI was established by placing a recoverable epidural sacculus to research effects of increased pressure on CVI.

Methods: Rabbits were randomly divided into the following groups: A, CVI; B, 0.2-mL epidural sacculus placed on the basis of CVI; C, 0.4-mL epidural sacculus; D, 0.6-mL epidural sacculus; E, sham operation. Two sacculus-release groups were then added, 8 hours (group F) and 24 hours (group G), on the basis of group D. Brain water content, extent of cerebral infarction, hemorheology indexes, D dimer, and fibrinogen were observed at 8, 24, and 48 hours after surgery.

Results: Brain water content was higher in groups A-D compared with group E with the exception of the 24-hour A group. Brain water content was significantly lower in sacculus-release groups compared with the 48-hour D group. Extent of cerebral infarction in group D was significantly higher at 24 and 48 hours compared with groups A and E. Extent of cerebral infarction in sacculus-release groups was significantly lower compared with group D at 48 hours. Hemorheology indexes and fibrinogen were significantly higher in group D compared with groups A and E at corresponding time points and increased with increasing intracranial pressure.

Conclusions: In the rabbit model of CVI, degree of brain edema, extent of cerebral infarction, hemorheology indexes, and fibrinogen increased as intracranial pressure gradient increased, which may promote formation of a hypercoagulable state. Early removal of intracranial hypertension reduced degree of edema and extent of cerebral infarction in rabbits.

Keywords: Brain water content; Cerebral infarction; Cerebral venous infarction; D dimer; Fibrinogen; Hemorheology; Intracranial pressure.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / physiopathology*
  • Brain Infarction / etiology
  • Brain Infarction / metabolism
  • Brain Infarction / physiopathology*
  • Cerebral Veins*
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / metabolism
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Hemorheology
  • Intracranial Hypertension / etiology
  • Intracranial Hypertension / metabolism
  • Intracranial Hypertension / physiopathology*
  • Intracranial Pressure
  • Rabbits
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / complications
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
  • fibrin fragment D
  • Fibrinogen