Novel Insights into the Pathobiology of the Vascular Access – Do They Translate into Improved Care?

While recent developments have allowed greater insight into the vascular pathobiology and intimal hyperplasia, very few of these advances have led to improved clinical care of hemodialysis vascular accesses. Indeed the most common procedure for the treatment of access stenosis and thrombosis is the same model for the creation and study of intimal hyperplasia. The evolution of our understanding of vascular thrombosis is reviewed with a current concept that includes a dynamic interplay of the biophysics, chemistry and biology of the blood vessel with the blood and its constituents. Implications for possible future interventions based on these novel concepts are offered, and the significance of improving our understanding of the pathobiology is emphasized.