Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair induces significant alterations in surface adhesion molecule expression on donor white blood cells exposed to patient plasma

Objective: To determine the response of white blood cells in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Materials and methods: Seven patients treated with an endoluminal procedure (AAA-E) and seven patients undergoing conventional surgery (AAA-C) were included (all males, aged 52-80 years). A panel of monoclonal antibodies against CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18 and L-selectin was used. To determine the surface receptors on both circulating and sequestered white blood cells, plasma from the patients and cells from healthy donors were combined for flow-cytometry. Results: The expression of CD11a adhesion molecules only showed slight variations regarding granulocytes, but was more pronounced on monocytes, however, significant differences between the two patient groups. CD11b, CD11c and CD18 molecules an both granulocytes and monocytes were significantly upregulated 60 min after the endovascular procedure compared to conventional aneurysm repair, and L-selectin molecules were by this time correspondingly cleaved off. Conclusion: Endovascular aneurysm repair differed significantly from conventional aneurysm surgery with peak adhesion molecule expression 60 min after balloon deflation, probably caused by release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).