Daniel Czerný

Cell Therapy, a New Standard in Management of Chronic Critical Limb Ischemia and Foot Ulcer

Fifty percent of diabetics (7% of general population) suffer from peripheral arterial occlusive disease, which may lead to amputation due to critical limb ischemia (CLI). The aim of our study was to prevent major limb amputation (MLA) in this group of patients using a local application of autologous bone marrow stem cells (ABMSC) concentrate. A total of 96 patients with CLI and foot ulcer (FU) were randomized into groups I and II. Patients in group I (n = 42, 36 males, 6 females, 66.2 ± 10.6 years) underwent local treatment with ABMSC while those in group II (n = 54, control, 42 males, 12 females, 64.1 ± 8.6 years) received standard medical care. The frequency of major limb amputation in groups I and II was 21% and 44% within the 120 days of follow up, respectively (p < 0.05). Only in salvaged limbs of group I both toe pressure and toe brachial index increased (from 22.66 ± 5.32 to 25.63 ± 4.75 mmHg and from 0.14 ± 0.03 to 0.17 ± 0.03, respectively, mean ± SEM). The CD34+ cell counts in bone marrow concentrate (BMC) decreased (correlation, p = 0.024) with age, even though there was no correlation between age and healing. An unexpected finding was made of relative, bone marrow lymphopenia in the initial bone marrow concentrates in patients who failed ABMSC therapy (21% of MLA). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.040). We conclude ABMSC therapy results in 79% limb salvage in patients suffering from CLI and FU. In the remaining 21% lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were identified as potential causative factors, suggesting that at least a partial correction with platelet supplementation may be beneficial.

A Controlled Trial of Revascularization in Acute Stroke

PURPOSE To compare safety and utility of intraarterial revascularization with use of stents to no revascularization in patients who either failed to respond to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or have contraindications to IVT. MATERIALS AND METHODS The case-control study was approved by local ethics committees; all patients signed informed consent. One hundred thirty-one patients (74 men; mean age, 65.9 years ± 12.3; range, 25-86 years) with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion were enrolled; 75 underwent IVT. No further recanalization therapy was performed in 26 (35%) IVT-treated patients with MCA recanalization (group 1). Patients with IVT failure after 60 minutes were allocated to endovascular treatment (group 2A) or no further therapy (group 2B). Patients with contraindication to IVT were allocated to endovascular treatment within 8 hours since AIS onset (group 3A) or to no recanalization therapy (group 3B). Neurologic deficit at admission, MCA recanalization, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), and 3-month clinical outcome were evaluated. Favorable clinical outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale score 0-2 at 3 months after stroke onset. Two-sided Mann-Whitney U test, independent samples t test, Fisher exact test, multivariate logistic regression analysis of baseline variables, and complete MCA recanalization for the prediction of favorable clinical outcome were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission was 13.5, 16.0, 15.5, 15.0, and 16.0 in groups 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, respectively (P > .05); SICH occurred in one of 26 (3.8%), one of 23 (4.3%), one of 26 (3.8%), one of 31 (3.2%), and one of 25 (4.0%) patients, respectively (P > .05). MCA recanalization after endovascular treatment was achieved in 50 of 54 (92.6%) patients. Favorable outcome was significantly different between groups 2A and 2B (10 of 23 [43.5%] and four of 26 [15.4%], respectively; P = .03) and groups 3A and 3B (14 of 31 [45.2%] and two of 25 [8.0%], respectively; P = .004) and was dependent on MCA recanalization (odds ratio, 5.55; P = .006). CONCLUSION In this controlled trial, intraarterial revascularization with stents was an effective and safe-effective treatment option in patients with acute MCA occlusion with contraindication to IVT or after IVT failure.

Transcranial Duplex Sonography and CT Angiography in Acute Stroke Patients

Acute occlusion of cervical or intracranial arteries is the most common cause of ischemic stroke (IS). The aims of the current study were to compare the occurrence of acute pathologic findings in intracranial arteries using transcranial color‐coded sonography (TCCS) and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) performed within 3 hours of IS onset and to assess the correlation between the vascular findings on admission and the patients clinical state on admission and 3 months after the IS. Forty‐five consecutive patients with an acute IS were included in the prospective study during an 18‐month period. All patients underwent CTA and TCCS within the first 3 hours of symptom onset. A high rate of pathologic findings in the intracranial circulation was found (70.9% in CTA and 77.4% in TCCS examinations). The CTA and TCCS findings with respect to the intracranial arteries were consistent in 87.1% of cases (Cohens κ, .797). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values achieved with TCCS in patients with middle cerebral artery main stem occlusion were 92.3%, 94.4%, and 92.3% and 94.4%, respectively. There was no correlation between the patients clinical status on admission and 3 months after the onset of the IS and the CTA or the TCCS findings (P > .1 in all cases). A substantial agreement was found between TCCS and CTA in the detection of pathologic findings in intracranial vessels in acute stroke patients. Both methods can be used for this purpose.

EkoSonicSV endovascular system for recanalization of the basilar artery occlusion

The interventional management of stroke may consist of the use of angioplasty, stenting or mechanical thrombus removal technique. For this purpose several retrieval devices are being used. Recently the new alternative device - EkoSonicSV has been introduced, which is particularly suitable for recanalization of the occluded basilar artery (BA). Here we are presenting a complete recanalization of BA using this device in two patients with stroke over a short period of time together with the intra-arterial use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and application of intravascular ultrasound.

Intracranial and Extracranial Infectious Pseudoaneurysms

Intracranial mycotic pseudoaneurysms are rare and generally lethal. The infectious pseudoaneurysms occur more frequently in the anterior circulation and may be multiple. Haemorrhage is rare but is associated with poor neurological outcome. The outcome in children is comparable, or slightly better, than in adults. Mortality reaches up to 80% in some studies. Cerebral mycotic or infectious aneurysms are a complication of infectious diseases (Cloud et al.,2003). Recently, infectious aneurysms occur more frequently in patients with a history of drug abuse (cocaine, heroine, pervitine, etc.), or in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV).

Endovascular treatment of mycotic pseudoaneurysms

The surgical correction of ruptured intracranial infectious pseudoaneurysms is associated with high morbidity and mortality. An endovascular therapeutic approach has been introduced recently. This treatment is, compared to surgical intervention, less invasive, faster, more effective and safer, thus making it a gentler option, particularly for pediatric patients. Lower morbidity and mortality have been achieved thanks to the combination of prolonged administration of antibiotics, coil embolization, and parent artery occlusion. Two pediatric cases of bleeding mycotic pseudoaneurysm treated successfully with fibered coil embolization and long-term antibiotics are dealt with in this manuscript.