Toe Pressure Measurements in Patients Suspected of Critical Limb Ischemia.

An objective hemodynamic assessment is mandatory to confirm Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). Toe pressure measurement is recommended. We compared toe measurements obtained using the Laser Doppler method (LD) (PERIMED PeriFlux, Sweden) considered as the reference test, with those obtained with a portable device using photoplethysmography (PPG) (Sys Toe Atys Medical, France).

Real-world Risk of Relapse of Giant Cell Arteritis Treated With Tocilizumab: A Retrospective Analysis of 43 Patients.

Objective: Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist, is approved for giant cell arteritis (GCA) as a cortisone-sparing strategy and in refractory patients. This study assessed the real-world efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of patients with GCA treated with TCZ.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational study at 3 French centers.

Association of skin hyperpigmentation disorders with digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: Analysis of a cohort of 239 patients.

Background: Skin pigmentation disorders in systemic sclerosis (SSc) have been sparsely described in the literature. Nevertheless, they could be a diagnostic and/or severity marker.

Objectives: To assess the association between pigmentation disorders and systemic involvement in patients with SSc.

Imatinib mesylate in scleroderma-associated diffuse skin fibrosis: a phase II multicentre randomized double-blinded controlled trial.

Background: Imatinib mesylate is a potent inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-β signalling pathways which may play a role in systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated skin changes.

Objectives: We aimed primarily at assessing the efficacy of imatinib mesylate in scleroderma skin fibrosis.

Methods: We performed a phase II double-blinded trial on patients with scleroderma with either morphoea involving > 20% of body surface area or SSc with extensive skin involvement: modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) ≥ 20/51.

Combined hyperlipidemia/hyperalphalipoproteinemia associated with premature spontaneous atherosclerosis in mice lacking hepatic lipase and low density lipoprotein receptor.

Background And Methods: Hepatic lipase (HL) is an enzyme which hydrolyzes triglycerides from plasma lipoproteins and thus takes part in the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnants and high density lipoproteins. The search described here concentrated on the description of the double invalidation of the HL and LDL receptor genes in mice in order to better understand the possible role of HL in combined hyperlipidemia/hyperalphalipoproteinemia and development of atherosclerosis.

Results: We show here that mice lacking both endogenous HL and LDL receptor (HL-/-:LDLR-/-) dramatically increased their plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and their remnants as a consequence of reduced liver uptake.

[Subacute ischemia of the lower limb revealing hyperhomocysteinemia in a young woman].

A 51-year-old woman had no known cardiovascular risk factor. She presented with bilateral calf intermittent claudication from February. She was hospitalized in August for acute right leg ischemia without loss of sensorymotor functions, following angiography by one week.

Comparison of four clinical prediction scores for the diagnosis of lower limb deep venous thrombosis in outpatients.

Purpose: We compared three scores for the prediction of deep venous thrombosis with a new score designed specifically for outpatients.

Methods: Patients referred for evaluation because of suspected deep venous thrombosis were examined by ultrasonography. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for three clinical scores (Wells [nine components], Kahn [four components], and St.

[Which investigations should be performed in chronic urticaria?].

Chronic urticaria is frequent. Apart from physical and allergic urticaria, a cause is infrequently identified. A lot of causes are suspected but frequently not well documented.

[Cardiovascular involvement in systemic sclerosis].

Heart involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis. Cardiomyopathy is the main localization but its diagnosis is often late. Cardiac echography or radionuclide imaging show early involvement of the myocardium while showing alterations of diastolic function of the left ventricle or perfusion defects.

[Lower limb occlusive arteriopathy: retrospective analysis of 73 patients with onset before the age of 50 years].

Objectives: Juvenile peripheral obstructive arterial diseases (POAD) have been poorly investigated but account for 1 to 7% of POAD. We analyzed retrospectively a cohort of patients with onset before the age of 50 years.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-three patients (60 males and 13 females) were divided into 4 groups (Buerger's disease: TAO, atheromatous PAOD, auto-immune POAD, arteriopathy of undetermined origin).

[Familial autoimmune hepatitis and C4 deficiency].

Introduction: Familial auto-immune hepatitis is unusual. We report a case in which hepatitis was associated with a deficiency in the C4 component of the complement.

Exegesis: Type 1 auto-immune hepatitis A was diagnosed in a 38-year-old woman presenting with systemic lupus erythematosus.

[Deep venous thrombosis in an adult with varicella].

Introduction: Some viral infections are associated with deep venous thrombosis. We report a case of deep venous thrombosis in an adult with varicella. He had neither known predisposing factors for thrombosis nor thrombophilia.