Long-term outcomes of elderly patients with CYP2C9 and VKORC1 variants treated with vitamin K antagonists.

Essentials The long-term effects of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 variants on clinical outcomes remains unclear. We followed 774 patients ≥65 years with venous thromboembolism for a median duration of 30 months. Patients with CYP2C9 variants are at increased risk of death and non-major bleeding. Patients with genetic variants have a slightly lower anticoagulation quality only. SUMMARY: Background The long-term effect of polymorphisms of the vitamin K-epoxide reductase (VKORC1) and the cytochrome P450 enzyme gene (CYP2C9) on clinical outcomes remains unclear. Objectives We examined the association between CYP2C9/VKORC1 variants and long-term clinical outcomes in a prospective cohort study of elderly patients treated with vitamin K antagonists for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Methods We followed 774 consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years with acute VTE from nine Swiss hospitals for a median duration of 30 months. The median duration of initial anticoagulant treatment was 9.4 months. The primary outcome was the time to any clinical event (i.e. the composite endpoint of overall mortality, major and non-major bleeding, and recurrent VTE. Results Overall, 604 (78%) patients had a CYP2C9 or VKORC1 variant. Three hundred and thirty-four patients (43.2%) had any clinical event, 119 (15.4%) died, 100 (12.9%) had major and 167 (21.6%) non-major bleeding, and 100 had (12.9%) recurrent VTE. After adjustment, CYP2C9 (but not VKORC1) variants were associated with any clinical event (hazard ratio [HR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.66), death (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.19-2.52) and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (sub-hazard ratio [SHR], 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02-1.89), but not with major bleeding (SHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.69-1.55) or recurrent VTE (SHR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.62-1.44). Patients with genetic variants had a slightly lower anticoagulation quality. Conclusions CYP2C9 was associated with long-term overall mortality and non-major bleeding. Although genetic variants were associated with a slightly lower anticoagulation quality, there was no relationship between genetic variants and major bleeding or VTE recurrence.

Conservative management of distal leg necrosis in lung transplant recipients.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) with distal leg necrosis in lung transplant recipients (LTR) is associated with a high risk for systemic infection and sepsis. Optimal management of CLI has not been defined so far in LTR. In immunocompetent individuals with leg necrosis, surgical amputation would be indicated and standard care. We report on the outcome of four conservatively managed LTR with distal leg necrosis due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with medial calcification of the distal limb vessels. Time interval from lung transplantation to CLI ranged from four years (n = 1) to more than a decade (n = 3). In all cases a multimodal therapy with heparin, acetylsalicylic acid, iloprost and antibiotic therapy was performed, in addition to a trial of catheter-based revascularization. Surgical amputation of necrosis was not undertaken due to fear of wound healing difficulties under long-term immunosuppression and impaired tissue perfusion. Intensive wound care and selective debridement were performed. Two patients developed progressive gangrene followed by auto-amputation during a follow-up of 43 and 49 months with continued ambulation and two patients died of unrelated causes 9 and 12 months after diagnosis of CLI. In conclusion, we report a conservative treatment strategy for distal leg necrosis in LTR without surgical amputation and recommend this approach based on our experience.

Association between thyroid dysfunction and venous thromboembolism in the elderly: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and subclinical thyroid dysfunction (SCTD) are both common in elderly patients. SCTD has been related to a hypercoagulable state and an increased thromboembolic risk. However, prospective data on the relationship between SCTD and VTE are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between SCTD and recurrent VTE (rVTE), all-cause mortality, and thrombophilic biomarkers. Patients Elderly patients with VTE were studied. METHODS: In a prospective multicenter cohort, thyroid hormones and thrombophilic biomarkers were measured 1 year after acute VTE, as both may be influenced by acute thrombosis. We defined subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) as elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (4.50-19.99 mIU L(-1) ), and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) as TSH levels of < 0.45 mIU L(-1) , both with normal free thyroxine levels. Outcomes were incidence of rVTE and overall mortality during follow-up starting after the 1-year blood sampling. RESULTS: Of 561 participants (58% with anticoagulation), 6% had SHypo and 5% had SHyper. After 20.8 months of mean follow-up, 9% developed rVTE and 10% died. The rVTE incidence rate was 7.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7-19.2) per 100 patient-years in SHypo participants, 0.0 (95% CI 0.0-7.6) in SHyper participants, and 5.9 (95% CI 4.4-7.8) in euthyroid participants. In multivariate analyses, the sub-hazard ratio for rVTE was 0.00 (95% CI 0.00-0.58) in SHyper participants and 1.50 (95% CI 0.52-4.34) in SHypo participants as compared with euthyroid participants, without increased levels of thrombophilic biomarkers. SHyper (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, 95% CI 0.23-2.81) and SHypo (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.30-3.29) were not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, SHyper may be associated with lower rVTE risks. SHypo showed a non-statistically significant pattern of an association with rVTE, without increased mortality or differences in thrombophilic biomarkers.

Diagnostic accuracy of fluorescence microlymphography for detecting limb lymphedema.

OBJECTIVES: Fluorescence microlymphography (FML) is a minimally invasive technique for visualization of the cutaneous lymphatic network. The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy and safety of FML in patients with unilateral lymphedema. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study. Patients with unilateral leg swelling were assessed and compared with the unaffected contralateral limb. FML was performed in all index legs and the contralateral leg by injecting 0.1 mL of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran intradermally in both limbs at the same level. The most prominent swelling of the affected limb was the anatomical reference. The spread of the dye in the lymphatic capillaries of the skin was measured in all dimensions by epiluminator intravital microscopy and the maximum dye spread value 10 min after injection was used for statistical analysis. The contralateral leg served as control. Test accuracy and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess threshold values that best predict lymphedema. RESULTS: Between March 2008 and February 2014 seventy patients with unilateral chronic leg swelling were clinically diagnosed with lymphedema. The median age was 45 (IQR 27-56) years. Of those, 46 (65.7%) were female and 71.4% had primary and 28.6% secondary lymphedema. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio, and positive and negative predictive value were 94.3%, 78.6%, 4.40, 0.07, 81.5%, and 93.2% for the 12 mm cut off level and 91.4%, 85.7%, 6.40, 0.10, 86.5%, and 90.9% for the 14 mm cut off level, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83-0.95). No major adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: FML is an almost atraumatic and safe technique for detecting lymphedema in patients with leg swelling. In this series the greatest accuracy was observed at a cut off level of ≥14 mm maximum spread.

Cognitive function in patients with peripheral artery disease: a prospective single-center cohort study.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between cardiovascular comorbidities and risk factors, and cognitive function in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients, as well as to determine the influence of cognitive function on cardiovascular outcome in a two-year follow-up. METHODS: The cognitive function of 104 PAD patients was assessed using the mini-mental test (MMSE). Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), Fontaine stage, PAD localization, cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities were taken from the electronic patient charts. A multiple logistic regression model, which included myocardial infarction (MI), stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary heart disease (CHD) and smoking was performed to compare patients with and without cognitive impairment. All study participants were followed for two years in order to evaluate their cardiovascular outcome, mortality and revascularisation rate. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mini-mental state between asymptomatic and symptomatic PAD patients. ABI and PAD localization was not related to cognitive function. However, pre-existing stroke, TIA, coronary artery disease (CAD) or DM were associated with a lower MMSE score. When MMSE was dichotomized in ≤27 and >27 points, the presence of CAD, history of cerebrovascular events and DM was associated with a MMSE ≤27 in multivariate analysis. There was no association between MMSE and cardiovascular event rate. CONCLUSION: PAD patients with CAD, stroke, TIA or DM have worse cognitive function than those without these factors. There was no evidence that cognitve function influenced cardiovascular outcome.

Physical activity and risk of bleeding in elderly patients taking anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Although the possibility of bleeding during anticoagulant treatment may limit patients from taking part in physical activity, the association between physical activity and anticoagulation-related bleeding is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether physical activity is associated with bleeding in elderly patients taking anticoagulants. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a prospective multicenter cohort study of 988 patients aged ≥ 65 years receiving anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism, we assessed patients' self-reported physical activity level. The primary outcome was the time to a first major bleeding, defined as fatal bleeding, symptomatic bleeding in a critical site, or bleeding causing a fall in hemoglobin or leading to transfusions. The secondary outcome was the time to a first clinically relevant non-major bleeding. We examined the association between physical activity level and time to a first bleeding by using competing risk regression, accounting for death as a competing event. We adjusted for known bleeding risk factors and anticoagulation as a time-varying covariate. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 22 months, patients with a low, moderate, and high physical activity level had an incidence of major bleeding of 11.6, 6.3, and 3.1 events per 100 patient-years and an incidence of clinically relevant non-major bleeding of 14.0, 10.3, and 7.7 events per 100 patient-years, respectively. A high physical activity level was significantly associated with a lower risk of major bleeding (adjusted sub-hazard ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.72). There was no association between physical activity and non-major bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of major bleeding in elderly patients receiving anticoagulant therapy.

Multicentre validation of the Geneva Risk Score for hospitalised medical patients at risk of venous thromboembolism. Explicit ASsessment of Thromboembolic RIsk and Prophylaxis for Medical PATients in SwitzErland (ESTIMATE).

There is a need to validate risk assessment tools for hospitalised medical patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We investigated whether a predefined cut-off of the Geneva Risk Score, as compared to the Padua Prediction Score, accurately distinguishes low-risk from high-risk patients regardless of the use of thromboprophylaxis. In the multicentre, prospective Explicit ASsessment of Thromboembolic RIsk and Prophylaxis for Medical PATients in SwitzErland (ESTIMATE) cohort study, 1,478 hospitalised medical patients were enrolled of whom 637 (43%) did not receive thromboprophylaxis. The primary endpoint was symptomatic VTE or VTE-related death at 90 days. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01277536. According to the Geneva Risk Score, the cumulative rate of the primary endpoint was 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-4.6%) in 962 high-risk vs 0.6% (95% CI 0.2-1.9%) in 516 low-risk patients (p=0.002); among patients without prophylaxis, this rate was 3.5% vs 0.8% (p=0.029), respectively. In comparison, the Padua Prediction Score yielded a cumulative rate of the primary endpoint of 3.5% (95% CI 2.3-5.3%) in 714 high-risk vs 1.1% (95% CI 0.6-2.3%) in 764 low-risk patients (p=0.002); among patients without prophylaxis, this rate was 3.2% vs 1.5% (p=0.130), respectively. Negative likelihood ratio was 0.28 (95% CI 0.10-0.83) for the Geneva Risk Score and 0.51 (95% CI 0.28-0.93) for the Padua Prediction Score. In conclusion, among hospitalised medical patients, the Geneva Risk Score predicted VTE and VTE-related mortality and compared favourably with the Padua Prediction Score, particularly for its accuracy to identify low-risk patients who do not require thromboprophylaxis.

Non-invasive pressure measurement of the great saphenous vein in healthy controls and patients with venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVES: Venous pressure measurement using an intravenous catheter is the sole method for the diagnosis of venous hypertension in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. A noninvasive tool to quantify increased venous pressure is essential for studying venous pathophysiology. Aim of the study was to investigate the value of controlled compression ultrasound (CCU) for noninvasive assessment of venous pressure (VP) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) in healthy persons and patients with venous insufficiency to quantify venous hypertension. METHODS: An optimal visible part of the GSV directly above the ankle was marked on the skin and compressed under ultrasound control and pressure needed for complete compression of the vein was recorded using a pressure manometer with a translucent silicone membrane. Complete insufficiency of the GSV (Hach IV) was documented by duplex ultrasound by an independent investigator before start of the study. VP measurement was performed while normal breathing, deep inspiration and expiration and during a standardized Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: Twenty controls and 19 patients with complete insufficiency of the GSV were included. Valsalva maneuver induced a slight increase in VP in controls (20.1 ± 4.5 vs 25.1 ± 6.6 mbar) but a significant higher increase in patients from 26 to 37 mbar (IQR 18.5-28.0 vs 31.5-43.0; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive venous pressure measurement of the great saphenous vein using CCU is feasible and documents an increased pressure during Valsalva maneuver in Hach IV patients compared to healthy controls.

The impact of endovascular lower-limb revascularisation on the aortic augmentation index in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aortic augmentation index (AIx), a marker of arterial stiffness, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. In claudicants, the effect of balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, PTA) on AIx has not been determined so far. METHODS: Measurements of the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) and AIx were performed before and 3 months after PTA and compared to age- and sex-matched PAD patients under best medical treatment. RESULTS: The data of 61 patients (44% female, mean age 68 years) who underwent lower-limb PTA was compared to 48 conservatively treated patients (38% female, mean age 68 years). ABI significantly improved after PTA from 0.73 ± 0.02 to 0.85 ± 0.03 (p = 0.001), but remained unchanged in the control group (0.85 ± 0.23 and 0.80 ± 0.21; p = 0.16). Revascularisation was associated with a significant reduction of AIx from 31.5 ± 1.1% to 28.8 ± 1.1% after 3 months (p = 0.01). In the conservatively treated group, AIx did not change during follow-up (29.9 ± 1.1% to 29.9 ± 1.1%; p = 0.83). CONCLUSION: Lower-limb revascularisation in PAD Rutherford stage II-III is associated with an improvement of markers for arterial stiffness.

Prospective, multicenter validation of prediction scores for major bleeding in elderly patients with venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: The Outpatient Bleeding Risk Index (OBRI) and the Kuijer, RIETE and Kearon scores are clinical prognostic scores for bleeding in patients receiving oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We prospectively compared the performance of these scores in elderly patients with VTE. METHODS: In a prospective multicenter Swiss cohort study, we studied 663 patients aged ≥ 65 years with acute VTE. The outcome was a first major bleeding at 90 days. We classified patients into three categories of bleeding risk (low, intermediate and high) according to each score and dichotomized patients as high vs. low or intermediate risk. We calculated the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, positive predictive values and likelihood ratios for each score. RESULTS: Overall, 28 out of 663 patients (4.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8-6.0%) had a first major bleeding within 90 days. According to different scores, the rate of major bleeding varied from 1.9% to 2.1% in low-risk, from 4.2% to 5.0% in intermediate-risk and from 3.1% to 6.6% in high-risk patients. The discriminative power of the scores was poor to moderate, with areas under the ROC curve ranging from 0.49 to 0.60 (P = 0.21). The positive predictive values and positive likelihood ratios were low and varied from 3.1% to 6.6% and from 0.72 to 1.59, respectively. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with VTE, existing bleeding risk scores do not have sufficient accuracy and power to discriminate between patients with VTE who are at a high risk of short-term major bleeding and those who are not.

The use of the "preclosure" technique for antegrade aspiration thrombectomy with large catheters in acute limb ischemia.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess retrospectively short- and mid-term outcomes of the use of a suture-mediated closure device to close the antegrade access in patients undergoing percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy with large catheters for acute leg ischemia. METHODS: Between November 2005 and February 2010, a suture-mediated active closure system (ProGlide(®) 6F, Abbott) was placed before arterial sheath (mean 9 F, range 6-12 F) introduction in 101 patients (74 men, 73 %, mean age 70.1 ± 12.6 years standard deviation). Data regarding mortality, complications, and factors contributing to vascular complications at the access site was collected for 6 month after the intervention to detect device-related problems. As a coincidence, 77 patients had follow-up visits for a duplex ultrasound. RESULTS: There were a total of 19 vascular complications (19 %) at the puncture site, all of which were of hemorrhagic nature and none of which consisted of vessel occlusion. Two major outcome complications (2 %) occurred. A retroperitoneal hematoma and a serious inguinal bleeding required additive treatment and did not result in permanent sequelae. Nine cases involved death of which eight were not attributable to the closure and one remained unclear. Successful closure was achieved in 95 patients (94 %); additional manual compression was sufficient in the majority of the remaining patients. Numerous factors contributing to vascular complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: With acceptable short- and mid-term outcomes, the "preclose" technique can be a reliable option for the closure of a large antegrade femoral access even for patients at a high risk of vascular complications, such as those undergoing aspiration thrombectomy.

Prospective comparison of clinical prognostic scores in elder patients with a pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: The Geneva Prognostic Score (GPS), the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) and its simplified version (sPESI) are well-known clinical prognostic scores for a pulmonary embolism (PE). OBJECTIVES: To compare the prognostic performance of these scores in elderly patients with a PE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a multicenter Swiss cohort of elderly patients with venous thromboembolism, we prospectively studied 449 patients aged ≥ 65 years with a symptomatic PE. The outcome was 30-day overall mortality. We dichotomized patients as low vs. higher risk in all three scores using the following thresholds: GPS scores ≤ 2 vs. > 2, PESI risk classes I-II vs. III-V and sPESI scores 0 vs. ≥ 1. We compared 30-day mortality in low- vs. higher-risk patients and the areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: Overall, 3.8% of patients (17/449) died within 30 days. The GPS classified a greater proportion of patients as low risk (92% [413/449]) than the PESI (36.3% [163/449]) and the sPESI (39.6% [178/449]) (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Low-risk patients based on the sPESI had a mortality of 0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-2.1%) compared with 0.6% (95% CI 0-3.4%) for low-risk patients based on the PESI and 3.4% (95% CI 1.9-5.6%) for low-risk patients based on the GPS. The areas under the ROC curves were 0.77 (95% CI 0.72-0.81), 0.76 (95% CI 0.72-0.80) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.66-0.75), respectively (P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of elderly patients with PE, the GPS identified a higher proportion of patients as low risk but the PESI and sPESI were more accurate in predicting mortality.

Use of biomarkers or echocardiography in pulmonary embolism: the Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Registry.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac biomarkers and echocardiography for assessing right ventricular function are recommended to risk stratify patients with acute non-massive pulmonary embolism (PE), but it remains unclear if these tests are performed systematically in daily practice. DESIGN AND METHODS: Overall, 587 patients with acute non-massive PE from 18 hospitals were enrolled in the Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Registry (SWIVTER): 178 (30%) neither had a biomarker test nor an echocardiographic evaluation, 196 (34%) had a biomarker test only, 47 (8%) had an echocardiogram only and 166 (28%) had both tests. RESULTS: Among the 409 (70%) patients with biomarkers or echocardiography, 210 (51%) had at least one positive test and 67 (16%) had positive biomarkers and right ventricular dysfunction. The ICU admission rates were 5.1% without vs. 5.6% with testing (P = 0.78), and thrombolysis or embolectomy were performed in 2.8% vs. 4.9%, respectively (P = 0.25). In multivariate analysis, syncope [odds ratio (OR): 3.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20-10.15; P = 0.022], tachycardia (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.37-3.91; P = 0.002) and increasing age (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; P < 0.001) were associated with testing of cardiac risk; outpatient status at the time of PE diagnosis (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.49-3.36; P < 0.001), cancer (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.17-2.79; P = 0.008) and provoked PE (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.05-2.40; P = 0.029) were associated with its absence. CONCLUSION: Although elderly patients and those with clinically severe PE were more likely to receive a biomarker test or an echocardiogram, these tools were used in only two-thirds of the patients with acute non-massive PE and rarely in combination.

Influence of plaque volume on hemodynamic response and stress hormone release in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting.

AIM: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) may cause bradycardia and hypotension due to barostimulation. The impact of periprocedural hypotension on CAS outcome remains controversial. The role of carotid plaque volume and catecholamine hormone release during CAS on hemodynamic changes has not been investigated so far. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if carotid artery plaque characteristics are predictive for stress hormone release or for postprocedural hemodynamic instability. METHODS: In 26 patients undergoing CAS, carotid plaque volume and morphology were assessed by two- and three-dimensional (3D)-Duplex sonography prior to the procedure. Arterial plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and renin concentrations were measured at the time of sheath insertion and 5 minutes after stent placement. ECG, heart rate, and invasive blood pressure were monitored throughout the procedure. RESULTS: CAS caused no significant changes in hormone release, but increasing plaque volume was related to the degree of bradycardia following stent deployment (r=0.57; P=0.01). Plaque size was not associated with postprocedural hypotension. Plaque echogenicity (echolucent, heterogeneous or echogenic) did not correlate with changes in systolic blood pressure, heart rate or catecholamine hormone release. CONCLUSION: CAS caused bradycardia in relation to plaque size, but did not cause catecholamine release which may indicate that the endovascular procedure is not associated with a relevant stress reaction.

Impact of endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis on endothelial function and arterial blood pressure.

AIM: Renovascular disease may cause arterial hypertension and decreases renal function, which both impair endothelial function. Endothelial function, a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk, can be assessed non-invasively by ultrasound. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of percutaneous transluminal renal artery angioplasty (PTRA) with stenting on endothelial function and arterial blood pressure in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). METHODS: Flow mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, flow velocities and shear stress were measured with high resolution ultrasound in 24 hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis prior and one day after revascularization by PTRA with stenting. Endothelial-independent brachial dilatation was measured after application of nitroglycerin. RESULTS: Endothelial-dependent dilatation improved from 2.4±0.9% to 6.1±1.4% (P=0.03), whereas endothelial-independent dilatation did not change after PTRA. Endothelial-dependent reactive hyperemic blood flow increased from 195±40 mL/min to 536±94 mL/min (P=0.0008), whereas endothelial-independent hyperemia did not increase after revascularization. After PTRA, shear stress at rest decreased from 37±11 to 23±3 dyne/cm² (P<0.0001), and reactive hyperemic shear stress increased from 89±29 to 107±12 dyne/cm² (P=0.014). The impact of PTRA on arterial blood pressure resulted in a mean decrease of 21±5 mmHg in systolic pressure (P<0.0001), of 9±2 mmHg in diastolic pressure (P=0.03), and of 14±5 mmHg in peripheral pulse pressure (P=0.0003), respectively. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of renovascular disease improves endothelial function and decreases in resting shear stress.

Results of endovenous ClosureFast treatment for varicose veins in an outpatient setting.

OBJECTIVE: Endovenous methods are increasingly used to treat varicose veins. We evaluated the outcome of patients treated with the new radiofrequency ablation (RFA)-ClosureFast catheter in an outpatient setting. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of postinterventional duplex ultrasound (DUS), complication rate and quality of life of patients treated for incompetent saphenous veins. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2009, 155 patients had been treated with ClosureFast. DUS was available from 73 (47%) patients (102 great [GSV] and 16 small [SSV] saphenous veins). After a mean follow-up of 12.2 months (range 1-29 months), DUS showed six (5.9%) open GSV and an occlusion of all treated SSV. One pulmonary embolism had occurred. Mean patient's satisfaction was 8.7 (10 = very satisfied), pain after one week 2.0 (no pain = 0, maximal = 10) and absence of work was 0.9 day (range 0-14 days). CONCLUSION: RFA for incompetent saphenous veins can safely be performed in an outpatient setting with a low complication rate, minimal pain and fast recovery.

Cardiac troponin testing and the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index. The SWIss Venous ThromboEmbolism Registry (SWIVTER).

A low simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI), defined as age ≤80 years and absence of systemic hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxia, cancer, heart failure, and lung disease, identifies low-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It is unknown whether cardiac troponin testing improves the prediction of clinical outcomes if the sPESI is not low. In the prospective Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Registry, 369 patients with acute PE and a troponin test (conventional troponin T or I, highly sensitive troponin T) were enrolled from 18 hospitals. A positive test result was defined as a troponin level above the manufacturers assay threshold. Among the 106 (29%) patients with low sPESI, the rate of mortality or PE recurrence at 30 days was 1.0%. Among the 263 (71%) patients with high sPESI, 177 (67%) were troponin-negative and 86 (33%) troponin-positive; the rate of mortality or PE recurrence at 30 days was 4.6% vs. 12.8% (p=0.015), respectively. Overall, risk assessment with a troponin test (hazard ratio [HR] 3.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-8.37; p=0.008) maintained its prognostic value for mortality or PE recurrence when adjusted for sPESI (HR 5.80, 95%CI 0.76-44.10; p=0.09). The combination of sPESI with a troponin test resulted in a greater area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.81) than sPESI alone (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57-0.68) (p=0.023). In conclusion, although cardiac troponin testing may not be required in patients with a low sPESI, it adds prognostic value for early death and recurrence for patients with a high sPESI.

Clinical relevance of musical murmurs in color-coded duplex sonography of peripheral and visceral vessels.

BACKGROUND: Musical murmurs (MMs) are Doppler phenomena which sound like high-frequency musical sounds. They reflect high and turbulent flow within relevant stenoses and were first described in degenerated bioprosthetic valves and later in intracranial vessels and were associated either with high-grade arterial stenosis, small collateral arteries or carotid cavernous fistulas. Objective of this article is to illustrate the spectrum of imaging of MMs observed in renal, intestinal and peripheral vessels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four experienced vascular ultrasound laboratories had been asked to report their cases with documented musical tones in color coded duplex sonography (CCDS) within a two year observational period (2008 and 2009). Documented Doppler findings and corresponding clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: MMs were found in 18 patients with an incidence of 0.05 % and were observed in high grade stenosis in hemodialysis access (n = 5), in post-biopsy arteriovenous fistulas after renal transplantation (n = 3), in renal transplant artery (n = 1) and vein (n = 3), stenoses in peripheral (n = 2) and intestinal arterial disease (n = 2), and in peripheral veins (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: The so called musical murmurs are a rare but potentially relevant finding in CCDS. They are caused by a variety of underlying pathologies with different clinical implications, however correct interpretation is mandatory since urgent therapy might be necessary.

Long-term anticoagulation treatment for acute venous thromboembolism in patients with and without cancer. The SWIss Venous ThromboEmbolism Registry (SWIVTER) II.

In patients with acute cancer-associated thrombosis, current consensus guidelines recommend anticoagulation therapy for an indefinite duration or until the cancer is resolved. Among 1,247 patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) enrolled in the prospective Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Registry (SWIVTER) II from 18 hospitals, 315 (25%) had cancer of whom 179 (57%) had metastatic disease, 159 (50%) ongoing or recent chemotherapy, 83 (26%) prior cancer surgery, and 63 (20%) recurrent VTE. Long-term anticoagulation treatment for >12 months was more often planned in patients with versus without cancer (47% vs. 19%; p<0.001), with recurrent cancer-associated versus first cancer-associated VTE (70% vs. 41%; p<0.001), and with metastatic versus non-metastatic cancer (59% vs. 31%; p<0.001). In patients with cancer, recurrent VTE (OR 3.46; 95%CI 1.83-6.53), metastatic disease (OR 3.04; 95%CI 1.86-4.97), and the absence of an acute infection (OR 3.55; 95%CI 1.65-7.65) were independently associated with the intention to maintain anticoagulation for >12 months. In conclusion, long-term anticoagulation treatment for more than 12 months was planned in less than half of the cancer patients with acute VTE. The low rates of long-term anticoagulation in cancer patients with a first episode of VTE and in patients with non-metastatic cancer require particular attention.