Kurt A. Jaeger

Vasa Vasorum and Plaque Neovascularization on Contrast-Enhanced Carotid Ultrasound Imaging Correlates With Cardiovascular Disease and Past Cardiovascular Events

Background and Purpose— Histological data associate proliferation of adventitial vasa vasorum and intraplaque neovascularization with vulnerable plaques represented by symptomatic vascular disease. In this observational study, the presence of carotid intraplaque neovascularization and adventitial vasa vasorum were correlated with the presence and occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and events (CVE). Methods— The contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound examinations of 147 subjects (mean age 64±11 years, 61% male) were analyzed for the presence of intraluminal plaque, plaque neovascularization (Grade 1=absent; Grade 2=present), and degree of adventitial vasa vasorum (Grade 1=absent, Grade 2=present). These observations were correlated with preexisting cardiovascular risk factors, presence of CVD, and history of CVE (myocardial infarction and transient ischemic attack/stroke). Results— The presence of intraluminal carotid plaque was directly correlated to cardiovascular risk factors, CVD, and CVE (P<0.05). Adventitial vasa vasorum Grade 2 was associated with significant more subjects with CVD than vasa vasorum Grade 1 (73 versus 54%, P=0.029). Subjects with intraplaque neovascularization Grade 2 had significantly more often a history of CVE than subjects with intraplaque neovascularization Grade 1 (38 versus 20%, P=0.031). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that presence of plaque was significantly associated with CVD (odds ratio 4.7, 95% CI 1.6 to 13.8) and intraplaque neovascularization grade 2 with CVE (odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 12.6). Conclusion— The presence and degree of adventitial vasa vasorum and plaque neovascularization were directly associated with CVD and CVE in a retrospective study of 147 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound.

Effect of prolonged treatment with compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic sequelae : A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE Compression stockings are widely applied after acute proximal deep vein thrombosis, but their efficacy in preventing the post-thrombotic syndrome remains controversial. This study assessed the effect of prolonged compression therapy after a standard treatment of 6 months after acute deep vein thrombosis. METHODS Of 900 patients screened, we randomly allocated 169 patients with a first or recurrent proximal deep vein thrombosis after receiving 6 months of standard treatment to wear compression stockings or not. Primary efficacy analysis was performed on the end point of emerging skin changes (C4-C6 according to the CEAP classification). Secondary analysis was done on symptoms associated with post-thrombotic syndrome. All analyses were done according to the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS The primary end point occurred in 11 patients (13.1%) in the treatment group compared with 17 (20.0%) in the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-1.28; P = .19). Mean follow-up was 3.2 years and 2.9 years, respectively. Five additional patients in the control group required compression therapy owing to post-thrombotic signs and symptoms not included in the primary end point. No venous ulceration was observed in either group. Within subgroup analyses of the primary end point, we observed a large sex-specific difference between women (HR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02-0.91) and men (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.42-2.73). Symptom relief was significant in favor of compression treatment during the first year but not thereafter. CONCLUSION Prolonged compression therapy after proximal deep vein thrombosis significantly reduces symptoms and may prevent post-thrombotic skin changes. Whether these findings translate to the prevention of advanced disease states with ulcerations remains unclear.

The value of rapid D-dimer testing combined with structured clinical evaluation for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis

PURPOSE Large studies have shown that most cases referred for duplex sonography for suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) have normal scan results. For medical and economic reasons, a preselection procedure, which allows the detection of true-negative cases before duplex scanning, is required; this procedure should be characterized by a high sensitivity and a high negative predictive value. METHODS In 343 patients (398 lower extremities) with suspected DVT, the DVT probability was clinically assessed, and a whole blood D-dimer agglutination test and a duplex scan were performed. The diagnostic sensitivities of the D-dimer test alone, a high clinical DVT probability alone, and the combination of both were evaluated. RESULTS The sensitivity values for the D-dimer test to diagnose proximal and distal DVTs were 88.7% and 80.9%, the negative predictive values (NPV) were 96.3% and 97.9%, and the specificity and the positive predictive value (PPV) were 54.8% and 49.6% and 26.6% and 8.2%, respectively. The sensitivities of the clinical DVT probability assessment for the diagnosis of proximal and distal DVTs were 83.9% and 66.7%, respectively; the corresponding NPVs were 94.9% and 96.5%, respectively. The specificity was 56.1% and 50.8%, and the PPVs were 26.1% and 7.0%, respectively. The combined use of the results of the clinical probability assessment and the D-dimer test resulted in sensitivities for proximal and distal DVTs of 98.4% and 90.5%, NPVs of 99.3% and 98.6%, a specificity of 43.4% and 38.4%, and PPVs of 24. 3% and 7.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION The combined use of a clinical DVT probability assessment scheme and the D-dimer test largely avoids false negative results, has a high sensitivity and NPV, helps to reduce the costs of DVT diagnosis, and may, in the future, be useful as a preselection procedure before duplex sonography.

Vascular involvement in patients with giant cell arteritis determined by duplex sonography of 2x11 arterial regions.

Objective To define the specificity and extent of duplex sonography (DS) findings suggestive of vessel wall inflammation in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods Patients admitted between December 2006 and April 2009 to the University Hospital Basel with a suspicion of GCA were eligible for the study. DS of 2×11 arterial regions was performed in all study participants, and American College of Rheumatology criteria were applied to classify patients into GCA or non-GCA groups. Results GCA was diagnosed in 38 of the 72 participants (53%). A DS pattern suggestive of vessel wall inflammation was not observed in any of the patients in the non-GCA group but, in 21 of the 38 patients with GCA (55%), DS signs suggestive of vessel wall inflammation of ≥1 vessel region were detected. In 12 of the 38 patients with GCA (32%), DS signs of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) were found in ≥1 vessel region(s) of both upper and lower limb vessels. Follow-up DS was performed 6 months after the baseline examination in 9 of the 12 patients with LVV and showed the persistence of most findings despite normalised signs of systemic inflammation. Conclusion DS detects changes in the vessel wall that appear to be specific for GCA; they can be present in upper and lower limb arteries of patients with GCA. Surprisingly, DS-detectable LVV and signs of systemic inflammation are largely dissociated.

Correlation of Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Lesion Echogenicity and Severity at Standard US with Intraplaque Neovascularization Detected at Contrast-enhanced US

PURPOSE To correlate echogenicity and severity of atherosclerotic carotid artery lesions at standard ultrasonography (US) with the degree of intraplaque neovascularization at contrast material-enhanced (CE) US. MATERIALS AND METHODS This HIPAA-compliant study was approved by the local ethics committee, and all patients provided informed consent. A total of 175 patients (113 [65%] men, 62 [35%] women; mean age, 67 years ± 10 [standard deviation]) underwent standard and CE US of the carotid artery. Lesion echogenicity (class I to IV), degree of stenosis, and maximal lesion thickness were evaluated for each documented atherosclerotic lesion. The degree of intraplaque neovascularization at CE US was categorized as absent (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or extensive (grade 3). Correlation of neovascularization with echogenicity, degree of stenosis, and maximal lesion thickness was made by using Spearman ρ and χ(2) test for trend. RESULTS In a total of 293 atherosclerotic lesions, echogenicity was inversely correlated with grade of intraplaque neovascularization (ρ = -0.199, P < .001). More echolucent lesions had a higher degree of neovascularization compared with more echogenic ones (P < .001). The degree of stenosis was significantly correlated with grade of intraplaque neovascularization (ρ = 0.157, P = .003). Lesions with higher degree of stenosis had higher grade of neovascularization (P = .008), and maximal lesion thickness increased with the grade of neovascularization (P < .001) and was significantly correlated with grade of neovascularization (ρ = 0.233, P < .001). CONCLUSION Neovascularization visualized with CE US correlates with lesion severity and with morphologic features of plaque instability, contributing to the concept that more vulnerable plaques are more likely to have a greater degree of neovascularization. Therefore, CE US may be a valuable tool for further risk stratification of echolucent atherosclerotic lesions and carotid artery stenosis of different degrees. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.10101008/-/DC1.

Rapid improvement of nailfold capillaroscopy after intense immunosuppression for systemic sclerosis and mixed connective tissue disease

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) are both associated with microvascular pathology. The most striking early clinical manifestation is Raynaud phenomenon (RP), which is only partly caused by functional narrowing of small vessels. Moreover, alteration of endothelial function1 and impairment of endothelial progenitor cell function in these patients have been previously described.2 This may have an important impact on capillary pathology. The resulting morphological changes can be observed by nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC). Haemorrhages, giant capillaries and avascular regions are typical findings that cannot only be detected by NFC, but also, at least in part, with moderate to substantial reliability using simpler methods such as ophthalmoscopes or dermatoscopes.3 These findings …

Physical training for intermittent claudication: a comparison of structured rehabilitation versus home-based training

In a non-randomized, open-label study results after a structured institution-based peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) rehabilitation program were compared with the results of training at home. Three groups were compared: group 1 (n = 19) PAD rehabilitation; group 2 (n = 19) PAD rehabilitation + clopidogrel 75 mg once daily; group 3 (n = 21) home-based training. The training period was 3 months for all groups, which was followed by a 3-month observation phase (without prescribed training). The rehabilitation program consisted of 3 training hours per week. Background variables, demographics, and baseline claudication distances were comparable between groups. After 3 months of training the absolute claudication distances (ACD) improved by 82.7%, 131.4%, and 5.4% for groups 1, 2 and 3. The initial claudication distances (ICD) changed by 163.8%, 200.6%, and 44.4%, respectively. All changes, except the ACD result for group 3, were statistically significant (p 0.05). Structured training groups (1 and 2) performed significantly better than group 3 (p 0.05). When results from groups 1 and 2 were pooled, ACDs changed from 493.3 218.1 to 1026.0 468.9 m, 546.0 378.8 m [95% CI 417.8 - 674.2 m]; p 0.05. ICDs improved from 175.3 110.8 m to 493.1 326.7 m, 320.8 315.9 m [95% CI 213.9 - 427.7 m]; p 0.05. The difference between the pooled mean results of the structured training groups and the results of group 3 amounted to 474.3 m [95% CI 270.2 - 678.4 m] and 242.4 m [95% CI 99.0 - 385.7 m], for ACD and ICD, respectively. Structured, supervised PAD rehabilitation is a highly efficacious treatment for intermittent claudication and may be regarded as the present gold standard among conservative treatment options.

Central venous pressure and impaired renal function in patients with acute heart failure

To determine the relationship between central venous pressure (CVP) and renal function in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) presenting to the emergency department.

Reliability of treadmill testing in peripheral arterial disease: a comparison of a constant load with a graded load treadmill protocol

This study aims to evaluate the reliability of repeated graded workload treadmill testing (G-test; 2 mph; 0% grade, increasing 2% every 2 min) and to compare the reliability of a constant workload treadmill protocol (C-test; 2 mph; 12% grade) versus the graded workload treadmill protocol in patients with intermittent claudication, studied longitudinally. A clinical trial investigating an orally stable prostacycline derivative that included 330 patients with intermittent claudication was performed. The trial employed three active treatment groups and one placebo group. Because there were no significant inter-group differences at baseline or after treatment, data from all groups were pooled for the evaluation of treadmill test reliability. Treadmill data were obtained from a 2-week run-in phase where three G-tests were performed, as well as from the beginning and the end of a 3-month double-blind phase where a G-test and a C-test were performed in random order. Treadmill test reliability was described through test process-related and between-subject variances and also using variance-derived parameters such as the reliability coefficient (RC) and the relative precision (RP). A higher value for the RC and a lower value for the RP indicate that the test variability is predominantly due to between-subject variance and not to test process-related variance. Estimates of variance were described for both the maximal or absolute claudication distance (ACD) and the initial claudication distance (ICD) with each treadmill test. Reliability estimates are reported for the total study sample and for patients with baseline claudication distances <300 feet and .300 feet (approximately <100 m; .100 m), as measured with the C-test. The cut-off value was empirically chosen to separate severely diseased from mild to moderately diseased claudicants. Theoretical considerations suggest that reliability measures may differ in these subgroups. With repeated testing during the run-in phase for the measure of ACD, the G-test had an RC of 0.952 and an RP of 21.9%. With the comparison of both test protocols in the entire study population for the measurement of ACD, the G-test had an RC of 0.902 and an RP of 31.3%, while the C-test had an RC of 0.876 and an RP of 35.2%. The results for ICD on the G-test were an RC of 0.809 and an RP of 43.7%, while the C-test had an RC of 0.737 and an RP of 51.3%. The reliability of the ACD measurement for RC and RP was numerically superior to those for the ICD for both protocols. In patients with a baseline ACD <300 feet, the RC for ACD on the G-test was 0.827 and the RP was 41.4%. In contrast, on the C-test the RC decreased to 0.250 and the RP increased to 86.6%. These changes in RC and RP were due to a marked decrease in the between-subject variance, demonstrating the inability of the C-test to separate appropriately the different claudication distances in populations with highly limited baseline claudication distances. During a run-in phase, the G-test has excellent test characteristics. During the longitudinal phase of a trial, the reliability of G-tests and C-tests are comparable in the entire study population. However, in patients with low claudication distances, the G-test should be given preference over the C-test.

The reliability of leg circumference assessment: a comparison of spring tape measurements and optoelectronic volumetry

The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability of repeated spring tape measurements with optoelectronic volumeter measurements for the assessment of lower leg circumferences. The limb circumferences at mid-calf and ankle level of both legs were measured three times using a spring tape measure as well as an optoelectronic volumeter. In all, 30 healthy volunteers participated in the study. Test reliability and repeatability were described through the process-related and between-subject variances and variance-derived parameters such as the reliability coefficient (intraclass correlation coefficient, RC), the relative precision (RP), and the coefficient of repeatability (CR). A higher value for the RC and a lower value for the RP indicate that the test variability is predominantly due to between-subject variance and not to test process-related variance. RCs for both methods, independent of whether measurements were taken at calf or at ankle level, always exceeded 0.95. RPs were in the same order of magnitude for both methods but lower for measurements at calf than at ankle level (range: RPcalf 6.36-8.74%; range: RPankle 12.49-18.56%). CRs for both methods were low and of comparable magnitude (CR range: 4.8-7.7), although slightly smaller for the spring tape. When measurement results from the spring tape and the volumeter were compared, results achieved with the volumeter were significantly longer than those from the spring tape (p, 0.05). Results from both methods were linearly in good agreement and there was no proportional bias; differences shown were due to a significant constant bias regarding the volumeter. Circumference measurements taken by spring tape and by optoelectronic volumetry are both characterized by a comparably high reliability. However, these methods cannot be used in an interchangeable way because a constant bias exists for volumetry, resulting in significantly larger circumferences compared with those measured using the spring tape.