MicroRNA-134-5p and the Extent of Arterial Occlusive Disease Are Associated with Risk of Future Adverse Cardiac and Cerebral Events in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting for Symptomatic Carotid Artery Disease.

There is little known about the prognostic value of serum microRNAs (miRs) in diabetic patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery disease (ICAS) who underwent stent supported angioplasty (PTA) for ICAS. The present study aimed to investigate expression levels of selected miRs for future major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) as a marker in diabetic patients following ICAS-PTA. The expression levels of 11 chosen circulating serum miRs were compared in 37 diabetic patients with symptomatic ICAS and 64 control group patients with symptomatic ICAS, but free of diabetes.

The Maintained Glycemic Target Goal and Renal Function Are Associated with Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Diabetic Patients Following Stent-Supported Angioplasty for Renovascular Atherosclerotic Disease.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) constitute a large proportion of patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). However, the mechanism of impaired renal function and hypertension in this subset of patients is multifactorial. We aimed to investigate whether, in diabetic patients, renal function (RF), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values following stent-supported angioplasty (PTA) for ARAS have an impact on cardiovascular and renal outcomes.

Simple clinical scores to predict blood pressure and renal function response to renal artery stenting for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Introduction: There are no systematic tools to predict blood pressure (BP) or renal function (RF) improvement after stent‑assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS).

Objective: This study aimed to develop simple, clinically applicable scores based on preprocedural clinical and renal ultrasonography parameters in order to predict BP and RF improvement following ARAS‑PTA.

Patients And Methods: A total of 202 patients who underwent ARAS‑PTA were categorized as RF responders (eGFR increase ≥11 ml/min/1.

Long-term outcomes and determinants of stenosis recurrence after renal artery angioplasty in hypertensive patients with renovascular disease.

Introduction: Restenosis (RS) following percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis (RAS) might have an unfavourable impact on renal function and blood pressure (BP) outcomes.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of RS in patients treated with PTA for RAS, and the relationship between BP and renal function (RF) changes with RS.

Material And Methods: We analysed freedom from RS in 210 patients (age 64.

Determinants of long-term outcome in patients after percutaneous stent-assisted intervention for renal artery steno-occlusive atherosclerotic disease.

Introduction: The effect of stent‑assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for renal artery stenosis (RAS) on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as well as renal function, in comparison with medical therapy, is still debatable. Data on determinants of cardiovascular (CV) outcome after PTA are lacking.

Objectives: We aimed to identify determinants of major cardiac and cerebral events (MACCEs) following PTA for RAS.

Determinants of long-term outcome in patients after percutaneous stent-assisted management of symptomatic subclavian or innominate artery stenosis or occlusion.

Aims: Incidence and determinants of restenosis and adverse events after endovascular management (PTA±stent) of the subclavian/innominate artery (SA/IA) stenosis/occlusion remain unclear due to the relatively short-term follow-up or limited size of prior studies. This large-scale, long-term prospective study investigated safety, efficacy, and prognosis after SA/IA PTA±stent.

Methods And Results: The study involved 411 consecutive patients with symptomatic SA/IA stenosis/ occlusion; 393 were followed annually after successful PTA±stent for up to 16 (minimum one) years.

Resolution of ischemic symptoms after percutaneous angioplasty for a symptomatic subclavian artery stenosis.

Objective: A minor part of patients with subclavian or innominate artery occlusive disease (subclavian artery stenosis [SAS]) experience symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, upper extremity exertional ischemia (UEEI), or cardiac ischemia owing to subclavian-coronary steal (SCS) in some instances. The study aimed to assess the impact of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of symptomatic SAS on symptom resolution and to determine factors related with SAS recurrence.

Methods: Symptom resolution and incidence of restenosis (RS) were evaluated for up to 15 years in patients who had undergone successful PTA of SAS.

Multiterritory Atherosclerosis and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness as Cardiovascular Risk Predictors After Percutaneous Angioplasty of Symptomatic Subclavian Artery Stenosis.

Objectives: To identify independent predictors of cardiovascular events among patients with subclavian artery stenosis.

Methods: Two hundred eighteen consecutive patients with subclavian artery stenosis referred to angioplasty were examined for coexistent coronary, renal, or lower extremity artery stenosis of 50% or greater. Initial carotid intima-media thickness and internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis were assessed.

Low prevalence of collateral cerebral circulation in the circle of Willis in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis and recent ischemic stroke.

Introduction: The circle of Willis is thought to play a key role in development of collateral flow in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS).

Aim: To assess flow in the circle of Willis in patients with recent ischemic stroke (IS).

Material And Methods: The study included 371 patients, 102 symptomatic with severe ICAS and recent IS (within the last 3 months) (group I) and 269 asymptomatic with severe ICAS (group II).

Platelet activation and microvascular injury in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of thrombotic complications after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aim: To assess whether inhibition of platelet function attenuates microvascular damage in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: We studied 83 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI.

Safety of embolic protection device-assisted and unprotected intravascular ultrasound in evaluating carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions.

Background: Significant atherosclerotic stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) origin is common (5-10% at ≥ 60 years). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) enables high-resolution (120 µm) plaque imaging, and IVUS-elucidated features of the coronary plaque were recently shown to be associated with its symptomatic rupture/thrombosis risk. Safety of the significant carotid plaque IVUS imaging in a large unselected population is unknown.

Effect of renal artery revascularization on left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic function, blood pressure, and the one-year outcome.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the potential interrelations between left ventricle mass (LVM), LV diastolic function, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing renal artery stenting [corrected] (RAS).

Methods: Prior to RAS, 3 and 12 months afterward, the change in LVM, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), diastolic function (E/A ratio, E' wave velocity, isovolumetric relaxation time [IVRT], E/E' ratio) on echocardiography and change in SBP and DBP on 24-hour monitoring were assessed in 84 patients, aged 63.7 ± 10 years, who underwent RAS for renal artery stenosis > 60%.

Predictors of cerebral reperfusion injury after carotid stenting: the role of transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography.

Purpose: To evaluate the possible role of transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) in predicting cerebral reperfusion injury (CRI) in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) for internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: TCD was obtained in 210 patients (149 men; mean age 64.2+/-8.

Polyvascular extracoronary atherosclerotic disease in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer in the developed countries, accounting for approximately half of all deaths, with the leading causes being myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke. In line with the ageing population, the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), supra-aortic arterial disease (SAD) and renal stenosis (RAS) is increasing. Polyvascular atherosclerosis (PVA) coexisting in several territories has an adverse effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Renal artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Renal dysfunction is an important factor of cardiovascular risk. Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a potential cause of secondary hypertension and by renal ischemia may lead to progressive renal insuficiency. In RAS patients a significant increase in prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as revascularisation rate and mortality rate was observed.

Internal carotid artery stenosis in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis.

Background: In patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) the operative mortality risk is 3% for isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR), but it significantly increases in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) and internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS).

Aim: To assess the frequency of ICAS > or = 50% and factors determining its occurrence in patients with severe calcified DAS referred for AVR.

Methods: The study included 104 patients (67 men), aged 63.