Comparison of the Toxicities of Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) Preparations, Dimethyl Sulphoxide and N-Butyl 2-Cyanoacrylate on Cerebral Parenchyma in an Experimental Rabbit Model.

Aim: Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), its organic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and N-Butyl 2-Cyanoacrylate (NBCA) are widely used in neurovascular embolization procedures and yet with potential risk of cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effect of EVOH-DMSO, its solvent DMSO and NBCA on cerebral parenchyma in a rabbit model.
Material and Methods: Forty-eight albino male rabbits were divided into 6 groups based on the substance injected into the parenchyma; normal saline, DMSO, NBCA, 6% EVOH-DMSO and 20% EVOH-DMSO and control group. At 72 hours the subjects were sacrificed and brain samples were harvested for histopathological examination and lipid peroxidase measurements.
Results: Neuronal degeneration and inflammatory reaction in the brain parenchyma was prominent especially in DMSO group and EVOHDMSO groups. Furthermore, the extent of degeneration and inflammatory reaction was related to the concentration of the embolic agent in the EVOH group. Lipid peroxidase activity was significantly increased in the NBCA group as compared to all but to 20 % EVOH-DMSO group.
Conclusion: EVOH and its solvent DMSO cause degeneration and inflammatory reaction in brain parenchyma and for EVOH this reaction was appeared to be dose dependent.