Migraine and Non-Migraine Headaches Following Diagnostic Catheter-Based Cerebral Angiography.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: No reliable estimates of headaches following catheter-based cerebral angiography are available. We performed an observational cohort study to ascertain the frequency and type of headaches following catheter-based cerebral angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent cerebral angiography through the transfemoral (or infrequently radial) route were included. Each patient underwent a brief neurological assessment after the procedure and more detailed assessment was performed if any patient reported occurrence of a headache. The headaches were classified as migraine if the diagnostic criteria specified by International Headache Society were met. The headache severity was classified using a visual numeric rating scale and time to reach pain free status for 2 consecutive hours was ascertained. RESULTS: Migraine headaches occurred in 5 (3.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-7.2%) of 158 patients who underwent cerebral angiography. The median severity of migraine headaches was 10/10 and time to resolution of headaches was 120 minutes (range 60-360 minutes). Migraine headaches occurred in 4 (18.1%, 95% CI 5.2-40.3%) of 22 patients with a history of migraine and 4 (23.5%, 95% CI 6.8-50%) of 17 patients with regular migraine headaches (≥1 episodes per month). Headaches occurred in 6 (3.8%, 95% CI 1.8-8.0%) patients who did not meet the criteria for migraine headaches. CONCLUSIONS: We provide occurrence rates of migraine headaches, an under-recognized adverse event, in patients undergoing catheter-based cerebral angiography.

A New Technique for the Assessment of Cerebral Vasodilatory Capacity as Part of Catheter-Based Cerebral Angiography.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the value of cerebral vasodilatory capacity assessment for risk stratification in patients with extracranial arterial stenosis or occlusion. We describe a new method that assesses cerebral vasodilatory capacity as part of catheter-based cerebral angiography. METHODS: We assessed regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in the arterial distribution of interest using a controlled contrast injection through a diagnostic catheter placed in the common carotid or the subclavian artery. rCBV maps were created using predefined algorithm based on contrast distribution in the venous phase (voxel size 0.466 mm3) into high, intermediate, low, and no detectable rCBV regions. rCBV maps were acquired again after the administration of intra-arterial nicardipine (1.5-2.5 mg), and percentage increases of the area of various grades of rCBV were calculated. RESULTS: Three patients with internal carotid artery stenosis (32% - 64% in severity) and 1 patient with extracranial vertebral artery stenosis (46% in severity) were assessed. There was a variable but consistent increase in the area of high rCBV in the ipsilateral hemisphere in 3 patients with internal carotid artery flow (5.5%-24.5%) and the cerebellum (9.6%) in 1 patient with vertebral artery flow assessments. The increase in high rCBV was most prominent in the patient who received 2.5 mg (24.5%) and least prominent in a patient who received 1.5 mg (5.5%) of intra-arterial nicardipine. There was a concurrent reduction in areas of intermediate and low rCBV (shift) in 3 patients, and there was an increase in all areas of rCBV grades (addition) in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Selective assessment of cerebral vasodilatory response in the affected arterial distribution is feasible during catheter-based cerebral angiography.

Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Hepatitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare cause of hepatitis in pregnancy and the chronically immunosuppressed, with a high propensity to progress to acute liver failure (ALF) and death. Patients typically present with a nonspecific clinical picture that often delays diagnosis and treatment, contributing to the high mortality rate. We present a case of a young female on chronic prednisone and hydroxychloroquine for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who was diagnosed with HSV-2 hepatitis after presenting with right-sided chest and abdominal discomfort. Despite early clinical deterioration, prompt initiation of therapy with intravenous acyclovir and methylprednisolone led to rapid improvement.

Effect of Endovascular Treatment on Quality of Life in Patients with Recurrent Symptoms Associated with Vertebral, Subclavian, or Innominate Arterial Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with vertebral, subclavian, or innominate arterial stenosis can present with recurrent symptoms that can adversely affect the quality of life (QOL). We aimed at determining the short-term effects of endovascular treatment (ET) on QOL in these patients. METHODS: European Quality of Life Five Dimension Scale (EQ-5D) utility index and visual analog scale (VAS) were ascertained before and within one month of ET in patients with vertebral, subclavian, or innominate arterial stenosis with recurrent episodes of vertigo, near syncope, and/or ataxia. The EQ-5D utility scores were derived from responses to five questions on EQ-5D questionnaire (-0.109 for the least to 1 for most favorable). The EQ-5D VAS score was obtained by subject's indication of his/her health state on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best). RESULTS: Angioplasty and/or stent placement was performed in 10 patients for stenosis in extracranial vertebral (n = 6), intracranial vertebral (n = 1), subclavian (n = 2), or innominate artery (n = 1). There was a significant reduction in preprocedure severity [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] of stenosis compared with postprocedure severity (79.9 ± 14.05% vs. 26.4 ± 37.7%, p < 0.001). There was a significant improvement in mean values of EQ-5D VAS postprocedure compared with preprocedure values (72 vs. 57.5, p = 0.018). Minimal important difference (improvement of at least 0.074) on EQ-5D utility index and on VAS (improvement ≥ 10 points) was reported by five and six of 10 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in QOL appears to be an important measure of effectiveness of ET in patients with vertebral, subclavian, or innominate arterial stenosis with recurrent episodes of vertigo, near syncope, and/or ataxia.

Effectiveness of Topical Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream for Pain Control During Femoral Artery Catheterization in Adult Patients: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of topical EMLA cream (lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%) for pain control during femoral artery catheterization for neuro-endovascular procedures in adult patients. METHODS: The body habitus overlying the femoral arterial pulsation was graded as: (1) pubic symphysis and iliac crest bone protuberances visualized; (2) Pubic Symphysis and Iliac Crest bone protuberances not seen but easily palpable; (3) Pubic Symphysis and Iliac Crest bone protuberances palpable with considerable difficulty; and (4) abdominal layers fold over the femoral region. The severity of pain at femoral artery catheterization was classified using a numeric rating scale score ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients with excellent (score of ≤1) and failed pain control (score of ≥8). RESULTS: The mean (±SD) and median numeric rating scale scores were 2.4 ± 2.7 and 1, respectively, in 186 patients included. The proportion of patients with excellent pain control was 49.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 42.1%-56.7%] and failed pain control was 6.9% (95% CI 4.1%-11.6%). The body habitus was graded as 1 (n = 31), 2 (n = 61), 3 (n = 48), and 4 (n = 46). In multivariate analysis, grade 4 body habitus [odds ratio (OR) 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.9], grade 4 ease of cannulation (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2-2.7), and previous femoral artery catheterization (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.8-4.2) were independent predictors of failed pain control. Grade 1 ease of cannulation (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-3.1) independently predicted excellent pain control. CONCLUSION: Topical EMLA cream as an adjunct to local lidocaine infiltration was associated with very low rates of failed pain control during femoral artery catheterization despite a relatively high rate of unfavorable body habitus.