Role of Doppler Ultrasound Analysis of Blood Flow Through the Ophthalmic and Intracranial Arteries in Predicting Neurologic Symptoms During Carotid Endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is frequently performed under locoregional anesthesia. The intraoperative clamping of the internal carotid artery (ICA) leads to cerebral hypoperfusion, which may in some patients result in the development of neurologic symptoms (NS). The objective of our study was to investigate whether there is an association between the preoperative ultrasound (US) Doppler flow in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and intracranial artery and the occurrence of these intraoperative NS. METHODS: We compared 50 patients with NS and 150 patients without NS during CEA. We analyzed their preoperative blood flow characteristics by Doppler US and their clinical and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The contralateral ICA occlusion increased the likelihood of intraoperative NS (odds ratio [OR], 8.4; P < .001). Abnormal contralateral OA flow also increased the likelihood of NS (OR, 1.84; P < .001), whereas ipsilateral abnormal OA flow reduced it (OR, 0.73; P = .06). Increased flow in the ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) increased the likelihood of NS (OR, 3.3), whereas reversed flow decreased it (OR, 0.1; P = .03). Inverse flow in the contralateral ACA increased the risk (OR, 5.4), whereas increased flow reduced it (OR, 0.2; P = .02). Male patients had a higher risk of NS (P = .09) as well as older patients (P = .05). Eight percent of the patients with NS developed a transient ischemic attack or stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler US analysis of the OA and ACA in combination with analysis of ICA stenosis may be a promising predictor of NS during ICA clamping. This, in turn, may warn the patient and the surgeon of an increased risk during surgery.

[Peritoneal dialysis in a patient with right hemiparesis, lupus nephritis, significant insufficiency of arteries of aortic arch and celiac disease: case report]. / Peritonejska dijaliza u bolesnice s desnostranom hemiparezom, lupus nefritisom, znacajnom insuficijencijom arterija luka aorte i glutenskom enteropatijom--prikaz slucaja.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a method of choice in patients in whom there are difficulties concerning creation of AV fistula. A 38-year old female patient came to our hospital because of a need of making an AV fistula. She had end-stage renal insufficiency of unknown origin. She had a right hemiparesis with a contracture of the right fist and epilepsy because of the stroke she suffered in 1993. After doing the diagnostics, we have found that patient had lupus nephritis, occlusion of brachiocephalic trunk, right and left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery. We also diagnosed celiac disease and a significant anemia. It was not possible to form an AV fistula, as it was not possible to do an assisted PD. Because of the right hemiparesis and contracture of the right fist, the possibility of performing PD independently was questionable. Despite the handicap, the patient had strong motivation and she managed to master the technique of PD independently. Even though it was estimated that she had a high risk score for applying anesthesia (ASA IV), the insertion of the peritoneal catheter went without complications. Because of the comorbidity, especially because of the significant stenosis and occlusions of the arteries of aortic arch, the kidney transplantation will not be performed. In the last fifteen months, the patient is performing PD independently, without any infectious complications, she is feeling well and is satisfied with the quality of her life. The consequences of the renal insufficiency are under control, systemic lupus erythematosus is, with a low dose of corticosteroids, in a steady state, malnutrition is corrected, but there is still hypoalbuminemia noted.

5, 10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677 C --> T genetic polymorphism in 228 Croatian volunteers.

5, 10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) is one of the key enzymes in the metabolism of homocysteine, where it catalyses its remethylation. The autosomal recessive bp 677 C --> T mutation in the MTHFR gene leads to the substitution of valine for alanine. Individuals who are homozygous for this C677T mutation exhibit a decreased specific activity and increased thermolability of this enzyme. This leads to increased plasma levels of homocysteine, which is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis and various manifestations of the atherosclerotic disease. The aim of this study was to find out the distribution and frequency of this mutation in the general Croatian population. A group of 228 volunteers (175 males and 53 females) has been analyzed for the MTHFR polymorphism, which revealed the following distribution: 105 (46.05%) individuals were without mutation (C/C), 102 (44.74%) were heterozygous (C/T) and 21 (9.21%) homozygous (T/T). These findings are within the results of studies on other European populations.