Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a self-expandable metal stent coated with autologous endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)for prevention of restenosis in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)in a swiue model.Methods EPCs were coated on the metal stents using fibrin gel before TIPS procedure.TIPS was performed in 15 young adult pigs,using an autologous EPC-seeded stent(treatment group,n=9)or a conventional bare metal stent(control group,n=6).All pigs were sacrificed at 2 weeks after TIPS procedure.Portography was performed immediately before the euthanasia.Gross and microscopic pathological exams and immunohistochemical exams of the TIPS track specimens were performed.Fisher test and t test were used to analyse the data.Results TIPS was performed successfully in all the 15 swine.On day 14 of follow-up,direct portography and necropsy demonstrated that 5 shunts remained patent,2 shunts stenosed,and the remaining 2 shunts occluded in the treatment group(n=9);while 5 shunts were occluded and one shunt was stenotic in the control group(n=6).The patency rate was 56%vs 0(P=0.03)between the two groups.Histological analyses showed a greater pseudo-intimal hyperplasia in the TIPS track of the control group than that of the treatment group(pseudointimal thickness at hepatic vein,hepatic parenchyma and portal vein site was(1.2±0.4),(1.3±0.5),(1.5±0.4)mmvs(1.0±0.6),(0.9±0.5),(1.0±0.4)mm respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion The EPC-coated metal stent is feasibly constructed in vitro and improves the patency in TIPS in a porcine model.