Cardiac biomarkers but not measures of vascular atherosclerosis predict mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) becomes more prevalent with advancing age and is associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular events and shortened life expectancy. We investigated the prognostic performance of cardiac and vascular biomarkers in a cohort of PAD patients.

Methods: A total of 95 PAD patients were enrolled (mean age 68 years, range 47 to 86 years, 73 males).

Percutaneous sclerotherapy for spongiform venous malformations - analysis of patient-evaluated outcome and satisfaction.

Background: Congenital venous malformations are frequently treated with sclerotherapy. Primary treatment goal is to control the often size-related symptoms. Functional impairment and aesthetical aspects as well as satisfaction have rarely been evaluated.

Misdiagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma as venous malformation in pediatric patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) characteristics that reliably distinguish deep plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) from venous malformations (VMs).

Methods: A database search was conducted for patients that were referred with a vascular anomaly but had a neurofibroma instead. Clinical and imaging features of patients with venous malformations as the most common referral diagnosis were compared to those with PNFs.

Assessment of PTEN-associated vascular malformations in a patient with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome.

Misdiagnosis of phosphatase and tensin homologue hamartoma syndromes is common. Correct diagnosis has a relevant impact on patients, as the risk of malignancies is high and treatment options are limited. We report the case of a 24-year-old man who presented with symptomatic vascular intramuscular lesions of the left forearm and right calf, macrocephaly, post Hashimoto thyroiditis, a multicystic intracranial paratrigonal lesion, lentiginous hyperpigmented maculae on the foreskin and multiple skin lesions.

Vertebral and internal mammary artery steal syndrome in patients with hemodialysis access.

Background: Increased flow in the subclavian artery feeding a vascular access for hemodialysis can induce steal phenomena in the vertebral (VA) and internal mammary artery (IMA). The aim of this study was to describe the hemodynamic effects of access flow on the VA and IMA in patients with native fistulas and grafts.

Patients And Methods: Peak systolic (PSV) and end diastolic (EDV) velocity measurements of the VA, IMA and carotid arteries, as well as flow volume measurements of the subclavian artery, were performed.

Long term follow-up after endovascular brachytherapy of femoro-popliteal arteries.

To perform a long term follow-up after endovascular brachytherapy (EVBT) and balloon angioplasty (PTA) regarding vessel patency and diameter. EVBT had been successfully used to decrease restenosis in short term, but long term data are lacking. Participants of a randomized study comparing EVBT and balloon angioplasty alone were invited for follow-up examination ten years after intervention.

Markers of arterial stiffness in peripheral arterial disease.

Increased arterial stiffness results from reduced elasticity of the arterial wall and is an independent predictor for cardiovascular risk. The gold standard for assessment of arterial stiffness is the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Other parameters such as central aortic pulse pressure and aortic augmentation index are indirect, surrogate markers of arterial stiffness, but provide additional information on the characteristics of wave reflection.

Combined and complex vascular malformations.

The correct diagnosis of vascular malformations is obtainable by clinical assessment and patient history in the majority of cases. Nonetheless, confusion in nomenclature, existence of multiple classifications and rarity of these lesions leads to misdiagnosis and related wrong treatment. This is especially the case in combined or complex vascular malformations or vascular malformations that are part of syndromes as these have overlapping clinical and imaging features.

Carotid artery disease after head and neck radiotherapy.

Radiation induced atherosclerosis of the carotid artery is a clinically relevant late complication after head and neck radiotherapy. Improved long-term survival after multimodality therapy in neck malignancies result in an increased risk of carotid artery disease in patients after radiotherapy (RT). This review focuses on the current knowledge of occlusive carotid disease after head and neck radiotherapy and highlights the exceeding morphologic post-radiation vessel wall pathologies.

Vascular malformations revisited.

Vascular malformations are congenital anomalies that can affect each part of the vasculature. Combined forms are common and they are often part of complex syndromes. Most malformations are diagnosed during infancy, but some get obvious only later in life.

Acute effects of haemodialysis on central venous and arterial pressure characteristics.

Aim: Haemodynamic stability of patients during haemodialysis (HD) sessions is of pivotal importance and accurate determination of dry weight remains a challenge. Little information is available about central venous and aortic pressure during dialysis. In this pilot study we used a non-invasive technique to describe the changes in central venous pressure (CVP) during dialysis.

Small dense low density lipoprotein particles are associated with poor outcome after angioplasty in peripheral artery disease.

Purpose: In patients suffering from symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD), percutaneous revascularization is the treatment of choice. However, restenosis may occur in 10 to 60% in the first year depending on a variety of factors. Small dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events, but their role in the process of restenosis is not known.

Increased permeability of cutaneous lymphatic capillaries and enhanced blood flow in psoriatic plaques.

Introduction: Morphological abnormalities of microvessels are described in psoriasis. However, there are conflicting data as to whether their function is also altered.

Objective: Our aim was to study the morphology and function of the lymphatic capillaries of psoriatic skin.

Predictive value of auscultation of femoropopliteal arteries.

Background: Femoropopliteal bruits indicate flow turbulences and increased blood flow velocity, usually caused by an atherosclerotic plaque or stenosis. No data exist on the quality of bruits as a means for quantifying the degree of stenosis. We therefore conducted a prospective observational study to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of femoropopliteal auscultation, differentiated on the basis of bruit quality, to detect and quantify clinically relevant stenoses in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Pressure indices in peripheral arterial disease assessed by infrared photosensors.

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) assessment by Doppler is operator dependent and limited in calcified arteries. For the detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we evaluated ABI and toe-finger (ToFi) pressures by infrared (IR) sensors at the digits and compared with standard Doppler (Doppler-ABI) in 100 patients with PAD and in 15 controls. Pressure indices were obtained in 86% for Doppler-ABI, 82% for IR-ABI, and 94% for IR-ToFi (P < .

Associated vascular lesions in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Aim: To identify vascular abnormalities in patients presenting with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Methods: We performed a whole-body MR angiography and a duplex sonography of the renal and carotid arteries in 12 patients (9 women, 3 men) with SCAD to identify vascular abnormalities.

Results: MR angiography revealed abnormalities of the renal arteries in 3/12 patients (25%).

Predictive value of duplex ultrasound for restenosis after renal artery stenting.

Purpose: Factors predicting renal function and recurrent stenosis following percutaneous renal revascularization are poorly identified. The predictive value of hemodynamic duplex ultrasound (DUS) parameters was evaluated.

Methods: In a prospective observational study patients undergoing stenting of renal artery stenosis (RAS) were included.

Endovascular treatment of Angio-Seal-related limb ischemia--primary results and long-term follow-up.

Objectives: To investigate primary success rates and long term follow-up of endovascular treatment of AngioSeal-related limb ischemia.

Background: Current knowledge on optimal therapy of ischemic complications following application of AngioSeal is limited.

Methods: A single-center prospectively maintained database was retrospectively interrogated and AngioSeal-related complications requiring endovascular treatment over an 8-year-time period was identified.

Nailfold capillaroscopy: Specific features in Fabry disease.

Objective: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked disorder caused by deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A. The metabolic defect results in the progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide within vascular cells leading to renal, cardiac and cerebrovascular manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate nailfold capillaroscopy as a non-invasive diagnostic tool in Fabry disease and to characterize morphological and functional changes of the capillaries in vivo.