The therapeutic effect of bevacizumab on plaque neovascularization in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis during contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

The purpose of the study was to assess the therapeutic effect of the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab on plaques of various stages in rabbit models using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Abdominal aortic atherosclerosis was induced in 55 rabbits. Thirty-six randomly selected rabbits were divided into 2 groups according to the timing of the bevacizumab injection: an early-stage plaque group (Group ESP) and a later-stage plaque group (Group LSP). The remainder were considered the control group. Standard ultrasonography and CEUS imaging of the abdominal aorta were performed. The animals were euthanized after CEUS, and plaque specimens were harvested for histological staining of CD31. The control group exhibited a substantially higher enhanced intensity, a higher ratio of enhanced intensity in the plaque to that in the lumen, and an increased number of CD31-positive microvessels in the plaque sections than Groups ESP and LSP (P < 0.05 for all). A higher enhanced intensity (P = 0.044), a higher ratio of enhanced intensity in the plaque to that in the lumen (P = 0.023) and more CD31-positive microvessels in the plaque sections (P = 0.006) were found in Group LSP than in Group ESP. Bevacizumab demonstrated more advanced inhibition of neovascularization in early-stage plaques in rabbits.