Abnormalities of the hallux skin and nail in the course of very rare arteriovenous malformation.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are usually found in the pelvic area and the brain. These vascular anomalies are rarely reported in the toes. AVMs in the toes may be asymptomatic, but can also cause atypical symptoms.

The influences of selected clotting and fibrinolysis factors on survival of patients with kidney tumors - a prospective study.

Introduction: Multiple studies suggest that cancer leads to activation of clotting and fibrinolysis pathways, elevating the risk of thromboembolic events. Kidney cancer is often complicated by clotting disorders. In this study, we hypothesized that preoperative clotting and fibrinolysis parameters are altered in healthy volunteers and kidney tumor patients.

Von Willebrand Factor and ADAMTS13 as Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Von Willebrand factor (VWF) elevation correlates with the left atrial blood stasis in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, the long-term impact of elevated VWF in patients with NVAF is not well established.

Methods: To assess the impact of VWF and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) in conjunction with echocardiographic measures of left atrium blood stasis on clinical outcomes, 414 NVAF prospectively recruited (October 4, 2007, to April 27, 2009) patients were followed for 3 years.

Association between P-selectin levels and left atrial blood stasis in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: P-selectin - a biomarker of platelet and endothelial cell activation is elevated in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, the association between sP-selectin level and thromboembolic complications in NVAF patients remains controversial. We tested the hypothesis that plasma soluble P-selectin (sPSL) level correlates with the measures of left atrial blood stasis in NVAF.

Analysis of peripheral nerve and autonomic nervous system function and the stage of microangiopathy in patients with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon in the course of connective tissue diseases.

Background: The pathogenesis of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (SRP) associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD) is not entirely understood. Nervous system dysfunction and microangiopathy are considered to be causes of this pathology.

Objectives: Peripheral and autonomic nervous system function, the stage of microangiopathy, and the relationships between these in patients with SRP were analyzed.

Platelet-predominate gene expression and reticulated platelets in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: Effect of pulmonary veins isolation.

Introduction: Reticulated platelet (RP) content is increased in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The purpose of this study was to determine if platelet content, morphology, and RP proportion are modulated by platelet genes.

Methods And Results: Expression of six platelet-predominate genes impacting platelet formation and release, platelet count, and RP content was assessed in NVAF patients before and 3-4 months after pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) and compared to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) controls.

Impact of atrial fibrillation on platelet gene expression.

Aims: Platelets retain cytoplasmic messenger RNA and are capable of protein biosynthesis. Several diseases are known to impact the platelet transcriptome but the effect of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) on platelet RNA transcript is essentially unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of NVAF on platelet RNA transcript by measuring platelet genes expression in consecutive NVAF patients before and 3-4 months after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and compared to normal sinus rhythm controls (NSR).

Role of Platelets in Thromboembolism in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation (AF) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality but the mechanism of its process remain poorly understood. There are many as yet unanswered questions surrounding the increased thrombotic tendency in AF. One of the crucial questions is what determines the fact that a thrombus remains in the left atrium in situ in some patients, while in others it breaks off and leads to embolic complications.

Prognostic value of tissue factor in patients with abdominal aortic and iliac arterial aneurysms - preliminary study.

Introduction: The decision on the time and choice of strategy of treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm must be especially carefully balanced. The aim of the study was to evaluate the tissue factor (TF) plasma level as a potential factor useful in anticipation of abdominal aortic aneurysm and/or iliac arterial aneurysm via comparison of plasma TF level in patients with ruptured and non-ruptured aneurysms.

Material And Methods: The study included 33 patients with aneurysm (17 operated on electively because of non-ruptured aneurysm and 16 operated on emergently due to ruptured aneurysm), 33 claudicant patients with atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries with normal diameter of arteries, and 30 healthy controls.

Thromboembolism associated with atrial fibrillation as a cause of limb and organ ischemia.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a high risk of thromboembolic episodes. Stroke is the most common embolic complication of AF. Consequently, the majority of the conclusions regarding the association between AF and embolism are based on clinical studies of patients with ischemic stroke.

Peripheral nerve changes assessed by conduction velocity distribution in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and dysautonomia.

Aim: Different mechanisms (neural and intravascular) are thought to be important in the pathogenesis of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). In a previous study we confirmed autonomic nervous system impairment in patients with primary RP, but the pathogenic role of peripheral nerves remained unclear. The aim of the current study was an electrophysiological analysis of peripheral nerves using both standard conduction velocity and the conduction velocity distribution (CVD) in patients with primary RP in order to investigate the causes of dysautonomia.

Platelet factor XIII gene expression and embolic propensity in atrial fibrillation.

Nearly 15% of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) have left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and yet the annual stroke rate averages 5%. The aim of this study was to identify variables influencing embolic propensity of LAAT. Platelet RNA was extracted from platelet-rich regions within formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from NVAF patients during cardiac surgery (26 LAAT from 23 patients) or peripheral embolectomy (51 thrombi from 41 patients).

Intermittent pneumatic compression in stable claudicants: effect on hemostasis and endothelial function.

Aim: Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) increases systemic fibrinolytic activity but may also injure endothelial cells and thereby induce coagulation. The safety and utility of IPC in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) therefore remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine whether IPC is associated with coagulation activation and endothelial cell damage, platelet factor 4 (PF4), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), total nitrate and nitrite level and von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentration.

Autonomic dysfunction in primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Aim: The pathogenesis of Raynaud's phenomenon is still unclear. Neural and intravascular mechanisms are thought to be involved in the pathological process. The role of the autonomic nervous system is continually discussed, with particular attention to over-reactivity of the sympathetic part.

Tissue factor, tissue pathway factor inhibitor and risk factors of atherosclerosis in patients with chronic limbs ischemia: preliminary study.

Aim: Thrombus formation plays a critical role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in atherosclerotic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Tissue factor (TF) initiates the clotting cascade and is considered an important regulator of hemostasis and thrombosis. TF activity is regulated by TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI).

Clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up of patients with renal vein thrombosis.

Background: To determine whether treatment guidelines for patients with lower-extremity venous thrombosis (DVT) could be applied to patients with renal vein thrombosis (RVT). The rates of recurrent venous thrombosis and survival for patients with these 2 diseases were compared.

Study Design: Inception cohort of individuals was identified with their first lifetime incident of RVT.

Prevalence of lower extremity venous disease in inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has long been considered a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Whereas most patients have persistent venous valvular dysfunction following lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT), we hypothesized that patients with IBD would have an increased prevalence of valvular incompetence and changes of chronic DVT (reduced venous caliber with thickened walls) relative to patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or normal volunteers.

Methods: Subjects with confirmed IBD, clinical features of IBS or normal volunteers underwent complete, prospective duplex ultrasound assessment of their lower extremity venous vascular system.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: Incidence of venous thrombosis recurrence and survival.

Objective: To determine whether treatments guidelines for lower extremity venous thrombosis (DVT) could be applied to patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), the rates of recurrent venous thrombosis and survival for these two diseases were compared.

Methods: The authors studied all patients diagnosed with CVST at the Mayo Clinic between 1978 and 2001. Survival and recurrent venous thrombosis rates (cerebral or noncerebral) were compared with those from patients with DVT.

[The role of platelet glycoprotein receptors and their ligands: fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor in arterial thrombosis].

The arterial platelet thrombus contribute to development of thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis: acute coronary syndrome, thrombotic strokes and exacerbations of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Platelet adhesion and aggregation is mediated by interaction between platelet glycoprotein receptors GPI b/IX GPII b/III a and their ligands-adhesive proteins: von Willebrand factor (vWF) and/or fibrinogen. Pharmacological blockade of interaction between glycoproteins receptor and their ligands may offer an effective prevention of thrombotic complications.

Platelets' glycoproteins and their ligands in patients with intermittent claudication.

Background: Platelet thrombi play critical role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAOD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of platelets GP IIb/IIIa, GP I b/IX and plasma levels of their ligands (fibrinogen and vWF) and their relation to other atherosclerotic risk factors in the patients with intermittent claudication secondary to PAOD.

Methods: Consecutive patients of the University Vascular Clinic were studied: 64 claudicants and 38 controls were enrolled.

Coagulation in diabetic and non-diabetic claudicants.

Background: In order to compare hemostasis in diabetic and non-diabetic claudicants we evaluated endothelial (von Willebrand factor, vWF), rheologic (fibrinogen, hematocrit), coagulation system (thrombin-antithrombin complex, TAT) and platelet (platelet factor 4, PF4, aggregation on thrombin, collagen and ADP stimulation) parameters in both groups and healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty-five diabetic, 34 non-diabetic patients with claudication and 26 healthy individuals were enrolled into the study.

Results: The severity of lower limbs ischemia was similar in two groups of claudicants but coronary heart disease and cerebral ischemia were significantly more common in diabetic than in non-diabetic claudicants.