A case report of a 40-year-old woman with endomyocardial fibrosis in a non-tropical area: from initial presentation to high urgent heart transplantation.

Background: Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) represents the most common cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy worldwide. Despite a high prevalence in tropical regions, it occasionally occurs in patients who have never visited these areas. While researches have proposed various possible triggers for EMF, etiology and pathogenesis remain largely unknown.

Stent-induced flow disturbances in the ipsilateral external carotid artery following internal carotid artery stenting: a temporary cause of jaw claudication.

Background: We hypothesize that stenting of the internal carotid artery can immediately impede blood flow to the external carotid artery by either plaque shift or stent coverage of the ostium, and thereby cause ischemic symptoms like ipsilateral jaw claudication.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with high-grade asymptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery who underwent endovascular treatment were examined by ultrasound of the external carotid artery and performed an exercise test by chewing chewing gum synchronously to an electronic metronome for 3 min. Tests were performed before, the day after, and 1 week after the stenting procedure.

Beta 2 microglobulin and the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Ongoing inflammation is associated with elevated levels of beta 2 microglobulin (B2M). We investigated B2M levels in a large cohort of patients with carotid atherosclerosis for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events.

D-dimer testing in the diagnosis of transfemoral pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous transluminal procedures.

Objective: Pseudoaneurysms are characterized by extravascular circulation and therefore may lead to an activation of the coagulation cascade. We investigated d-dimer levels in patients with and without postcatheterization femoral pseudoaneurysms and hypothesized that d-dimer levels correlate with the presence of pseudoaneurysms at the vascular access site.

Methods: Patients with clinical suspected groin pseudoaneurysms after transluminal procedures were eligible.

Prevalence of NSF following intravenous gadolinium-contrast media administration in dialysis patients with endstage renal disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in a patient population being at highest risk for developing this disease and to evaluate possible risk factors.

Materials And Methods: The radiological records of 552 patients with ESRD being on hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) were retrospectively reviewed to identify whether the patients underwent MR-examinations with or without intravenous administration of GBCA. In case of exposure to GBCA, the number of contrast injections, the benchmark and the cumulative doses of GBCA, and possible cofactors regarding pathogenesis of NSF were recorded.

Inflammation and adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with renal artery stenosis and peripheral artery disease.

Objectives: We hypothesized that high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the presence of renal artery stenosis (RAS) might conjointly predict future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Background: Clinical outcome in PAD is determined by the extent of atherosclerosis affecting additional vascular beds and the activity of the atherosclerotic process reflected by inflammatory serum markers. Data on the predictive value of hs-CRP on outcome in PAD patients with RAS is limited.

Incidence and diagnosis of thrombosis in children with short-term central venous lines of the upper venous system.

Objectives: Deep venous thrombosis in children is frequently related to central venous lines. Study objectives were to determine objectively the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in children with short-term central venous lines and to assess the diagnostic value of venography, venous ultrasonography, and echocardiography, in a prospective cohort study.

Methods: Consecutive children with congenital heart disease requiring short-term central venous lines in the upper venous system were screened systematically for deep venous thrombosis by using venography, venous ultrasonography, and echocardiography, according to standardized protocols.

Access site management after peripheral percutaneous transluminal procedures: Neptune pad compared with conventional manual compression.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of the procoagulant wound dressing Neptune Pad (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) compared with those of conventional manual compression for access site management after peripheral percutaneous interventions.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and all patients gave written informed consent. Two hundred one consecutive patients were enrolled and were randomly assigned to be treated with the Neptune Pad (n = 100) or conventional manual compression (n = 101).

Conventional balloon angioplasty versus peripheral cutting balloon angioplasty for treatment of femoropopliteal artery in-stent restenosis: initial experience.

Purpose: To prospectively determine whether cutting balloon angioplasty, when compared with conventional balloon angioplasty (CBA), improves morphologic and clinical outcome in patients with femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis.

Materials And Methods: Patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis were randomly assigned to undergo CBA or peripheral cutting balloon angioplasty (PCBA) for treatment of lesions up to 20 cm in length. Patients were followed up clinically and with duplex ultrasonography (US) at 1, 3, and 6 months for occurrence of a restenosis of 50% or higher.

De novo superficial femoropopliteal artery lesions: peripheral cutting balloon angioplasty and restenosis rates--randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To prospectively determine, in a randomized controlled trial, whether cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA) yields superior morphologic and clinical outcomes at 6 months compared with the 6-month outcomes after conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in patients with short de novo superficial femoropopliteal artery (SFA) lesions.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the ethics committees of the two participating centers, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. The authors randomly assigned 43 patients (26 men, 17 women; median age, 69 years) who had 5 cm or shorter de novo SFA lesions in association with intermittent claudication or chronic limb ischemia to undergo CBA or PTA.

Improvement of neurocognitive function after protected carotid artery stenting.

Objective: To investigate the effect of protected carotid artery stenting on neurocognitive function with particular consideration of the angiographic filling of the ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA).

Background: An improved inflow to the supply area of the anterior cerebral artery after revascularisation of severe carotid artery stenosis may beneficially affect frontal lobe cognitive functions.

Methods: We prospectively included 71 consecutive patients who underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS) due to high grade carotid artery stenosis.

Management of iatrogenic common femoral artery injuries in pediatric patients using primary vein patch angioplasty.

Background: Invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures remain the most frequent causes of pediatric vascular injuries. Ideal management, especially the indication for surgical treatment, remains controversial. This study evaluates the outcome of surgical repair for iatrogenic common femoral artery (CFA) injuries in pediatric patients using primary vein patch angioplasty.

Duplex sonography versus angiography for assessment of femoropopliteal arterial disease in a "real-world" setting.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement of duplex ultrasound (DUS) versus digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for assessment of femoropopliteal arterial disease in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods: Consecutive patients with peripheral artery disease who were scheduled for a percutaneous intervention were included in this retrospective study. During an 18-month period, 491 patients (276 men; median age 73 years, interquartile range 64-81) were enrolled.

CTA quantification of internal carotid artery stenosis: application of luminal area vs. luminal diameter measurements and assessment of inter-observer variability.

Background And Purpose: In contrast to digital subtraction angiography (DSAdia), computed tomography angiography (CTA) provides exact delineation of the perfused lumen in the axial plane, thus allowing luminal (CTAdia) as well as cross-sectional area (CTAarea) internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) assessment. The purposes of the present study were to correlate CTAdia and CTAarea with DSAdia and to assess the inter-observer variabilities of both CTA techniques.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis, CTA images were reviewed by two observers and ICAS was assessed according to North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial applying CTAdia and CTAarea.

CTA in the detection and quantification of vertebral artery pathologies: a correlation with color Doppler sonography.

Introduction: We evaluated the feasibility of multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) in the examination of vertebral artery (VA) pathologies and correlated the results with those of color Doppler sonography (CDS).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort analysis, we identified 65 patients with suspected cerebrovascular disease, who underwent MDCTA and CDS of the supraaortic vessels within a maximum period of 1 month. We evaluated the feasibility and image quality of MDCTA in this indication, compared the value of reformatted images and axial source images in the grading of stenoses and correlated these results with those of CDS.

A proinflammatory state is detectable in obese children and is accompanied by functional and morphological vascular changes.

Background: Obesity is generally accepted as a risk factor for premature atherosclerosis. Subclinical inflammation as quantified by blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) contributes to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that inflammation in obese children is related to functional and early morphological vascular changes.

Grading of internal carotid artery stenosis: can CTA overcome the confusion?

Purpose: To compare the measurements of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis obtained from multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) based on the NASCET and ECST grading methods.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort analysis from data at a tertiary care university clinic, the CTA and DSA images from 69 consecutive patients (52 men; mean age 70.3+/-8.

Prediction of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous endovascular procedures.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of using physical examination to identify puncture-related groin pseudoaneurysms, as assessed by using duplex ultrasonography (US), after percutaneous transluminal procedures and to prospectively evaluate the association between preinterventional platelet count, antiplatelet medication, and the occurrence of pseudoaneurysms.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the local ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. The study prospectively included 273 consecutive patients (161 men, 112 women; age range, 34-90 years) who were referred for duplex US evaluation of the inguinal arterial puncture site 1 day after endovascular procedures.

Covered versus bare self-expanding stents for endovascular treatment of carotid artery stenosis: a stopped randomized trial.

Purpose: To investigate whether filter-protected carotid artery stenting (CAS) using a covered self-expanding stent reduces the risk of cerebral embolization.

Methods: Fourteen asymptomatic patients (13 men; median age 77 years, IQR 73-83) were enrolled in a randomized pilot trial comparing the rates of cerebral microembolism during and after filter-protected CAS using either a self-expanding covered (n=8) or a bare (n=6) carotid stent. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring was done during and for 90 minutes after the procedure.

Is there improvement of "vascular depression" after carotid artery stent placement?

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate if high-grade (> or = 80% luminal narrowing) internal carotid artery stenosis is associated with depressive symptoms and if carotid artery stent placement (CAS) potentially improves depressive symptoms.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from all subjects. One hundred forty-three patients (91 men, 52 women; interquartile range, 63-76 years) undergoing CAS because of asymptomatic high-grade (> or = 80% luminal narrowing) carotid artery stenosis and 102 control subjects (64 men, 38 women; interquartile range, 63-73 years) with advanced peripheral artery disease and without carotid artery stenosis undergoing lower-limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasty were included.

Outcome after endovascular treatment of deep femoral artery stenosis: results in a consecutive patient series and systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: To evaluate immediate and midterm clinical outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of deep femoral artery stenosis in patients with chronically occluded superficial femoral arteries (SFA) and to report the results of a systematic review of the literature in this field.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 55 consecutive patients (42 men; median age 72 years, interquartile range [IQR] 63-79) with severe intermittent claudication (n = 38) or critical limb ischemia (n = 17) who underwent balloon angioplasty of deep femoral artery stenosis. Patients were followed with ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, estimation of maximum walking capacity, clinical staging of peripheral artery disease (PAD), and duplex ultrasound imaging for restenosis.

Grading of internal carotid artery stenosis: comparative analysis of different flow velocity criteria and multidetector computed tomographic angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) versus published color Doppler sonography (CDS) velocity criteria in the grading of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive patients (50 men; mean age 70.2 +/- 8.

Arterial puncture site management after percutaneous transluminal procedures using a hemostatic wound dressing (Clo-Sur P.A.D.) versus conventional manual compression: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel hemostatic wound dressing designed for rapid hemostasis at arterial puncture sites.

Methods: Over a 15-month period, 209 consecutive patients were randomized to conventional manual compression (n=105) or the use of the Clo-Sur P.A.

Association of neutrophils and future cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Objective: We hypothesized that higher neutrophil counts are associated with an increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with clinically advanced atherosclerosis.

Methods: We prospectively studied 398 patients (233 men; median age, 69 years) with symptomatic peripheral artery disease who were admitted to the inpatient ward of the angiology department of a tertiary care university hospital in a cohort study. Total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts were obtained, and patients were followed for MACE, defined as myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary interventions, coronary artery bypass grafting, stroke, carotid revascularization, and death.