Fayyaz Mazari

Randomized clinical trial of endovenous laser ablation compared with conventional surgery for great saphenous varicose veins.

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is a popular minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. Surgical treatment, featuring junctional ligation and inversion stripping, has shown excellent clinical and cost effectiveness. The clinical effectiveness of both treatments was compared within a randomized trial.

Randomized clinical trial of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, supervised exercise and combined treatment for intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease.

The aim was to compare percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), a supervised exercise programme (SEP) and combined treatment (PTA plus SEP) for intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease.

Clinical and technical outcomes from a randomized clinical trial of endovenous laser ablation compared with conventional surgery for great saphenous varicose veins

This report describes the clinical effectiveness and recurrence rates from a randomized trial of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and surgery for varicose veins.

Modelling the effect of venous disease on quality of life

A clear understanding of the relationship between venous reflux, clinical venous disease and the effects on quality of life (QoL) remains elusive. This study aimed to explore the impact of venous disease, and assess any incremental direct effect of progressive disease on health‐related QoL, with the ultimate aim to model venous morbidity.

Early outcomes from a randomized, controlled trial of supervised exercise, angioplasty, and combined therapy in intermittent claudication.

BACKGROUND To compare angioplasty (PTA), supervised exercise (SEP) and PTA + SEP in the treatment of intermittent claudication (IC) due to femoropopliteal disease. METHODS Over a 6-year period, 178 patients (108 men; median age, 70 years) with femoropopliteal lesions suitable for angioplasty were randomized to PTA, SEP, or PTA + SEP. Patients were assessed prior to and at 1 and 3 months post treatment. ISCVS outcome criteria (ankle pressures, treadmill walking distances) and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires (SF-36 and VascuQoL) were analyzed. RESULTS All groups were well matched at baseline. Twenty-one patients withdrew. Results are as follows: Intragroup analysis: All groups demonstrated significant clinical and QoL improvements (Friedman test, p < 0.05). SEP (60 patients, 8 withdrew)-62.7% of patients (n = 32) improved following treatment [20 mild, 9 moderate, 3 marked], 27.4% (n = 14) demonstrated no improvement, and 9.8% (n = 5) deteriorated. PTA (60 patients, 3 withdrew)-66.6% patients (n = 38) improved following treatment [19 mild, 10 moderate, 9 marked], 22.8% (n = 13) demonstrated no improvement, and 10.5% (n = 6) deteriorated. PTA + SEP (58 patients, 10 withdrew)-81.6% of patients (n = 40) improved following treatment [10 mild, 17 moderate, 3 marked], 14.2% (n = 7) demonstrated no improvement, and 4.0% (n = 2) deteriorated. Intergroup analysis: PTA + SEP produce a much greater improvement in clinical outcome measures than PTA or SEP alone, but there was no significant QoL advantage (Kruskal-Wallis test, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION SEP should be the primary treatment for the patients with claudication and PTA should be supplemented by an SEP.

An analysis of relationship between quality of life indices and clinical improvement following intervention in patients with intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal disease

OBJECTIVES To establish the relationship between quality of life (QOL) index scores and clinical indicators of lower limb ischemia. METHODS One hundred seventy-eight patients (108 men, median age 70 years) with femoropopliteal lesions suitable for angioplasty were recruited. Assessments were performed prior to and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following intervention (angioplasty and/or supervised exercise program). Clinical indicators of lower limb ischemia (treadmill walking distances, ankle pressures), generic (SF36, EuroQol), and disease-specific (Kings College VascuQol) quality of life questionnaires were analyzed. Correlation analysis was performed for index scores (SF-6D, EQ-5D, VascuQol) and individual domain scores using nonparametric tests. RESULTS All clinical indicators of lower limb ischemia and quality of life index scores showed a statistically significant improvement as result of intervention (Friedman test, P < .001). Both generic QOL index scores (SF-6D, EQ-5D) showed moderate but statistically significant correlation (Spearmans rank correlation, P < .001) with treadmill walking distances (SF-6D r = 0.533, EQ-5D r = 0.500) and weak but significant correlation to resting and postexercise ankle-brachial pressure index (SF-6D r = 0.253, EuroQol r = 0.214). Disease-specific index scores (VascuQol) showed similar moderate correlation to treadmill walking distances (r = 0.584, P < .001) and weak but statistically significant correlation with resting and postexercise ABPI (r = 0.377, P < .001). All index scores showed strong and statistically significant (P< .001) correlation with patient-reported walking distance (SF-6D r = 0.604, EQ-5D r = 0.511, VascuQol r = 0.769). All domains of SF36 showed similar correlation with clinical indicators except general health. The strongest correlation was seen with treadmill walking distances in the domains of physical function (r = 0.538) and bodily pain (r = 0.524). CONCLUSION All generic and disease-specific QOL scores show statistically significant improvement with angioplasty and/or supervised exercise in patients with claudication due to femoropopliteal atherosclerosis. However, the degree of improvement seen in clinical indicators of lower limb ischemia is not reflected in these scores. These findings support the use of composite outcome measures with mandatory, independent assessment of QOL as an independent outcome measure in intervention studies in these patients.

Economic analysis of a randomized trial of percutaneous angioplasty, supervised exercise or combined treatment for intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease

The aim was to compare costs and utilities of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), a supervised exercise programme (SEP) and combined treatment (PTA + SEP) in patients with intermittent claudication (IC) to establish the most cost‐effective treatment.

Do angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors improve walking distance in patients with symptomatic lower limb arterial disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND Several studies have reported the clinical effects of long-term treatment with cardioprotective medications in patients with lower limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in terms of reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A number of these studies investigated the clinical effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) on walking distance in this group of patients. OBJECTIVE To review the evidence regarding the effects of ACEIs in patients with symptomatic PAD of the lower limbs in terms of the effect on maximum and pain-free walking distances and ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI). METHODS A systematic literature search of the medical literature from 1966 to 2010 on randomized placebo-controlled trials which assessed the effect of ACEIs on maximum and/or pain-free walking distances and/or ABPI in patients with symptomatic lower limbs PAD was performed. Data from included studies were pooled with use of random-effects model with standard mean differences. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed with calculation of I(2) statistic. RESULTS From a total of 346 publications identified, 34 articles were selected for full review based on title and abstract. 4 RCTs comprising 576 patients (334(58%) males, mean age 60.7 years, age range (58-66)) met the inclusion criteria and were systematically reviewed. Of those, 137 (24%) patients suffered from symptomatic lower limb PAD. Maximum walking distances were pooled successfully from all 4 studies. After analysing these data, we found significant heterogeneity among the groups and no significant difference in the pooled treatment effect (standard mean difference = 0.46, 95% CI (-0.99-1.92), p = 0.53, I(2); = 95%). Pain-free walking distances and ankle brachial pressure indices were pooled successfully from 3 studies and showed an insignificant overall treatment effect (standard mean difference = 0.97, 95% CI (-0.24-2.18), p = 0.12 and 0.68, 95% CI (-0.70-2.06), p = 0.33, respectively). CONCLUSION The evidence regarding ACE inhibition efficacy on treadmill walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication is contradicting and lacked properly powered RCTs. However, based on this study, ACEIs did not improve treadmill walking distance and ABPI in patients with symptomatic lower limb arterial disease. Further research from properly powered RCTs is needed.

Intraluminal thrombus has a selective influence on matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases) in the wall of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND The influence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) on the proteolytic environment within the wall of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is unknown. This is the first study to examine the correlation between ILT thickness and the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their natural inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases [TIMPs]) within the adjacent AAA wall. METHODS Thirty-five patients undergoing elective repair of AAAs were studied. A single full-thickness infrarenal aortic sample was obtained uniformly from the arteriotomy site from each patient. All samples were snap frozen and analyzed for total and active MMP 2, 8, and 9 and TIMP 1 and 2. Thrombus thickness at the specimen site was measured on the preoperative contrast computed tomographic angiograms. RESULTS There was a statistically significant correlation between ILT thickness, concentration of TIMP 1, and active concentration of MMP 9. MMP 2 (active and total) and TIMP 2 demonstrated a positive correlation with ILT thickness, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSION In this novel study, we found a significant positive correlation of ILT thickness with active MMP 9 and TIMP 1 concentration in the adjacent AAA wall, and this may have implications for AAA expansion and eventual rupture.

A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of the Effect of Preoperative Statin Use on Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Areas of Low and Peak Wall Stress in Patients Undergoing Elective Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

BACKGROUND A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was carried out to study the effects of statins on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in areas of peak and low abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall stress. METHODS A total of 40 patients undergoing elective open AAA repair were randomized to receive either atorvastatin 80 mg (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) for 4 weeks preoperatively. Finite element analysis was used to determine AAA wall stress distribution. Full thickness aortic samples were obtained at surgery from areas of low and peak wall stress, snap-frozen, and stored at -80°C for subsequent MMP-2, -8, and -9 and TIMP-1 and -2 analyses. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). RESULTS Both groups were well matched (p > 0.05) regarding age, gender, comorbidities, and duration of hospital stay. There were no statistically significant differences in levels of MMPs and TIMPs between the statin and placebo group and between areas of low and peak AAA wall stress. CONCLUSION The short-term use of statins is not associated in reducing levels of MMP 2, 8, and 9 and TIMP-1 and -2 in areas of low and peak wall stress in patients with AAA.