Evidence for unmyelinated C fibres and inflammatory cells in human varicose saphenous vein.

The physiopathology of venous symptoms, such as pain, leg heaviness or swelling sensations, in chronic venous disease (CVD) remains unclear. Localized release of proinflammatory mediators appears to play a key role but the presence of nociceptors sensitive to inflammatory mediators, such as unmyelinated C fibres, needs to be demonstrated. The present study included 10 patients with documented CVD who underwent surgery for saphenectomy.

[Course of ischemic risk in treated atheromatous hypertensive patients. The PRIHAM study (Prognosis of Ischemic Risk in Atheromatous Patients under Mediatensyl)].

Hypertension is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors. However it seldom occurs alone in a patient and the antihypertensive treatment should be taken into account when assessing global cardiovascular status. The PRIHAM study was an open study which enrolled 3,216 hypertensive atheromatous patients who already has had a clinical ischaemic accident.

[Electric stimulation of the spinal cord in arterial diseases of the legs. A multicenter study of 244 patients].

From January 1985 through January 1990, 244 patients (168 males, 76 females, mean age: 69 +/- 14 years) received epidural spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of advanced, nonreconstructable, peripheral vascular disease of the lower limbs due to atherosclerosis in 180 patients, atherosclerosis and/or diabetes in 49, and thromboangiitis obliterans in 15 patients: previous surgery included 101 bypass-grafts in 70 patients, 51% of which below the knee, and 117 sympathectomies in 113 patients as the last resource in face of distal peripheral vascular disease of the lower limbs. Mean ankle-to brachial systolic pressure ratio was .31 +/- .

[Efficacy of an extract of Ginkgo biloba in the treatment of chronic obliterating arteriopathies of the lower limbs in stage III of Fontaine's classification].

Unlabelled: A controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba extract in injectable form (Tanakan 50 mg, a lyophilizate for parenteral use) was carried out versus a placebo as a preoperative medical treatment of stage III (Fontaine classification) chronic occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs (with pain in decubitus). The 64 men and women patients in this multicenter study (32 in each group) were over 18 years of age and had a cultural and intellectual level as well as a physical condition allowing them to play an active role in the experiment (self-evaluation of pain). During 8 days they received two daily infusions of 500 cc of normal saline solution containing either 100 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract or a placebo of identical appearance.

Deterioration of in-situ vein bypasses: anatomic study of 11 cases.

During the follow-up of 130 patients with in-situ bypasses 11 patients were reoperated following the detection of degenerative changes. The lesions found included anastomotic aneurysms (1), diffuse dilatation (2), localized aneurysms (5), stenosis of valve sites (2), and diffuse narrowing (1). The mean interval for the onset of a lesion was eight months.

[Peroperative measurement of peripheral vascular resistance. Significance for the indications, technic and prognosis of distal bypasses. Apropos of 35 cases].

The authors report their experience of the per-operative measurement of the "absorption capacity" of a distal vascular network. This constitutes an absolute measurement and provides a reliable per-operative indication of a bypass, and eventually that of surgical reintervention in early thrombosis. The techniques are described with a brief overview of the major physical laws in this field.

[Reproducibility of venous occlusion plethysmography. Value of a computerized system of calculation].

The manual interpretation of identical occlusive venous plethysmography curves by different technicians is subject to a wide variation. The object of this study is to verify this state of affairs and to propose an automatic calculation of the different parameters usually used: the percentage volume increase (delta V), the time taken to half empty (t V/2) and the maximal venous outflow (MVO). We compared the variations, due to the operators, in the measurement of the parameters characterising identical curves obtained by occlusive venous plethysmography.

[Peroperative angiography in reparative surgery of the lower limbs. Apropos of experience with 1099 cases].

The authors report their experience of per-operatory angiography in a series of 1,099 cases over 13 consecutive years. The main interest is the limitation in the rate of early reintervention, which frequently causes morbidity and mortality in this type or surgery. The serial nature of the technique is emphasized, and is most comparable to pre-operatory exploration.

Treatment of deep venous thrombosis with a very low molecular weight heparin fragment (CY 222).

Thirty patients presenting with phlebographically confirmed deep venous thrombosis were treated with a very low molecular weight heparin fragment (CY 222) in an open and prospective phase-2 trial. A uniform dosage of 750 IC anti-factor Xa units/kg/day was administered subcutaneously for 10 days or more to patients whose thromboses were categorized as postsurgical (17 cases) or medical (13 cases). The clinical symptoms of venous thrombosis diminished in 93% of the patients overall.

[Hemorheologic study of different forms of vasomotor acrosyndromes].

Hemorheologic disorders are a frequent finding in circulating blood during vascular diseases (arterial disease of lower limb, cerebrovascular accidents). They participate in thrombogenesis and tissue ischemia production, and also in microcirculatory disturbances as shown by behavior in microvessels of red cells with decreased hereditary deformability (sickle cell anemia). Active alterations in erythrocyte rheology have also been demonstrated during vascular diseases in relation to inflammation: cell-protein inflammatory reaction, action of leukocytes.

[CY 222, a very low molecular weight heparin, in the curative treatment of deep venous thrombosis. Apropos of 95 cases. Clinical and phlebographic results].

Efficacy of a very low molecular weight heparin, CY 222, in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs was evaluated in a prospective clinical trial instituted in November 1984. CY 222 was administered as subcutaneous injections of 0.03 ml.

Quantitative, histological and ultrastructural studies of peripheral nerve in arteriosclerotic non-diabetic patients.

The superficial peroneal nerve was taken from 12 arteriosclerotic non-diabetic patients just after amputation of a leg. Preparations of teased fibers were performed in 8 cases. Specimens were studied by light and electron microscopy in all cases.

[Study of the muscular perfusion of the lower limbs using thallium 201 scintigraphy before and after lumbar sympathectomy in 13 patients].

Scintigraphy with 201-Thallium is a useful method for exploring muscle circulation in lower limbs of patients with arteritis. Comparative values with time can be obtained by studying respective isotopic activity ratios of the thigh, calf and foot. Unilateral isolated lumbar sympathectomy was performed in 13 patients for arteriopathy of the lower limbs (7 claudications, 4 isolated trophic disorders, 1 thrash-foot and 1 juvenile arteriopathy).

[Predictive value of the reactive hyperemia test as an indicator for lumbar sympathectomy].

Seventy-five patients had a lumbar sympathectomy for chronic arteritis of the lower limbs. This study was done to assess the predictive value of Hillestad's test (potential of vasodilatation) and that of the deep breath test (sympathic stimulation), realised by digital strain gauge plethysmography. Were considered a success the patients with claudication who doubled their walking distance and those with rest pain or gangrene who suffered no more or healed.

[In situ venous bypass using the great saphenous vein: analysis of the 5 year outcome of 129 procedures].

One hundred and twenty nine in situ vein bypasses have been reviewed with a five year follow-up. Cumulative patency rates at five year are 71% (+/- 21%) for above-knee femoro-popliteal bypasses, 69% (+/- 11.5%) for below-knee anastomosis and 94% (+/- 35%) when distal anastomosis is performed on tibial or peroneal vessel.

[Contribution of immunology to the differentiation of arteritis in young persons. Apropos of 2 cases].

The authors report two observations of T.A.O.

[Value and limitations of venous blocks using reserpine in acrosyndromes of the upper extremities].

A block Bier technique using a one milligram Reserpine injection has been applied to ten patients with severe Raynaud's phenomenon (six of them had digital gangrene). Six patients have been improved and three have completely healed. This method must only be applied to severe cases and may be used as a pretherapeutic test in upper sympathectomy.

[Anatomo-clinical correlations after the treatment of iliocaval phlebitis with a 1-year follow-up].

Clinical results and anatomical findings on isotopic angiography, after a minimum follow-up period of one year, were compared in 32 patients treated for iliocaval venous thrombosis. Therapy had involved: iliofemoral thrombectomy alone (8 cases), iliocaval thrombectomy and retroperitoneal clip (10 cases), a clip alone (5 cases), fibrinolysis and heparin therapy (3 cases), heparin therapy alone (6 cases). Overall clinical results were considered as being good in 26 patients and poor in 6, whereas permeability of the main venous axis was confirmed by isotopic phlebography in only 5 cases.

[Paradoxical systemic emboli. 5 case reports].

Paradoxical systemic embolism by venous emboli in the arterial circulation can be explained by a right-left shunt. In 5 patients, the diagnosis of paradoxical emboli was definite in three cases, and suspected in two others. Venous, arterial and cardiac angiography define the anatomical criteria which alone can confirm the diagnosis.

Ultrastructural study of peripheral nerve in arteritic diabetic patients.

The peripheral nerve was taken from 25 diabetic patients with arteritis just before or after amputation of a leg. The ultrastructural study of myelinated fibers showed several alterations. Loss of fibers varied greatly from case to case.