Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs in interventional radiology.

In treating peripheral arterial disease, a profound knowledge of antiplatelet and anticoagulative drug therapy is helpful to assure a positive clinical outcome and to anticipate and avoid complications. Side effects and drug interactions may have fatal consequences for the patient, so interventionalists should be aware of these risks and able to control them. Aspirin remains the first-line agent for antiplatelet monotherapy, with clopidogrel added where dual antiplatelet therapy is required.

Successful emergency stent implantation for superior vena cava perforation during malignant stenosis venoplasty.

Iatrogenic injuries of the superior vena cava during endovascular treatments are a rare but life-threatening complication. According to the literature, treatment is mostly surgical. Herein we present the case of a patient undergoing venoplasty for a malignant superior vena cava syndrome.

Chronic inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis as important cofactors in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis following intravenous gadolinium exposure.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a rare disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease characterized by an increased tissue deposition of collagen. Its pathogenesis remains unclear. Prior studies indirectly suggested a possible impact of chronic inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis--a common feature in kidney diseased patients--whereas recent data focused almost exclusively on gadolinium (Gd)-based MR contrast agents.

Evaluation of renovascular hypertension: comparison of functional MRI and contrast-enhanced MRA with a routinely performed renal scintigraphy and DSA.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate a clinically suspected renovascular hypertension (RVH) by means of MRI. It was to find out if functional MRI (fMRI) is able to provide adequate results with regard to MAG3 captopril scintigraphy and if contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) is able to provide adequate results in the stenosis grading compared with the nonselective digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Methods: This open, monocentric, prospective, phase 3 study included patients with a clinically suspected RVH.