Abstract: Autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the lifeline for hemodialysis patients with endstage renal disease, and AVF failures are most often caused by venous stenotic lesions. Neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) is the main pathological change of venous stenotic lesions in failed AVFs, though its precise mechanism remains unclear. Vasa vasorum refers to the network of microvessels which penetrates the tunica adventitia and media of large blood vessels, supplying them with oxygen and nutrients and removing metabolic waste. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms of vasa vasorum participating in development of NIH to provide new theoretical explanations and new therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of AVF failures.

Key words: vasa vasorum,end-stage renal disease,autologous arteriovenous fistula,neointimal hyperplasia