[Similarities and differences among patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis affecting several territories. The AIRVAG cohort (Integral Attention to Global VAscular Risk)]. / Similitudes y diferencias entre los pacientes con aterosclerosis sintomática de distintos territorios. Cohorte AIRVAG (Atención Integral al Riesgo VAscular Global).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Even though atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, few prospective studies have evaluated in a thorough and systematic manner the whole vascular tree in patients with clinical damage of different territories. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective protocolized study of 269 consecutive patients younger than 70, attended because of symptomatic arteriosclerosis of any territory -53% coronary (CHD), 32% cerebrovascular (CVD), 15% peripheral (PVD)-. Patients underwent evaluation of risk factors and their control, systematic non-invasive study of the vascular tree (Doppler-ultrasound) and comparison between groups according to the index territory. RESULTS: Even though all risk factors were represented in the 3 groups, male sex, smoking and diabetes were more frequent in PVD and dyslipemia was more common in CHD (p < 0.05) Abdominal aortic diameter and carotid intima-media thickness were similar for all groups, while the number of carotid plaques was higher in PVD. CHD patients more often presented left ventricular hypertrophy and reduced ejection fraction. PVD patients showed a marked reduction of the ankle-brachial index as well as increased C-reactive protein and homocysteine (p < 0.05). Severe unsuspected vascular lesions were found in 13% of cases (95% confidence interval, 9.5-17.6%). Risk factor control was better for CHD, followed by CVD and PVD, but was globally poor. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic evaluation of the vascular tree detects generalized atherosclerotic lesions, in some cases severe and clinically unsuspected. New markers to identify patients at very high risk are necessary. Peripheral vascular disease identifies a group of patients of particular risk. Risk factor control is deficient, particularly among PVD patients.

Paravertebral pseudoaneurysm thrombosed after percutaneous thrombin injection.

We present a case of a lumbar pseudoaneurysm in a 62-year-old patient with myelofibrosis (agnogenic myeloid metaplasia). The patient was submitted to two anesthetic infiltrations for lumbar pain and one biopsy of a suspected hematopoietic site. Subsequently, a 4.5 cm lumbar pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed. The pseudoaneurysm was thrombosed with 1 ml (500 IU) thrombin injection with a successful clinical result. We discuss different treatment options along with several issues related to the most frequent complication of this technique, namely, native artery thrombosis.

Abdominal aortic coarctation, renovascular, hypertension, and neurofibromatosis.

Abdominal aortic coarctation and renal artery stenosis associated with neurofibromatosis is an unusual cause of renovascular hypertension in children and young adults. Sustained hypertension despite pharmacological treatment carries significant end-organ deterioration, failure to thrive, and potentially lethal complications. Timely arterial reconstruction can render these children normotensive, allowing normal development and reducing long-term morbidity. Progression of the arterial occlusive process, however, may occur after surgery. Therefore, careful follow-up is mandatory following aortorenal reconstruction in children with neurofibromatosis.

Conservative hemodynamic surgery for varicose veins.

Conservative hemodynamic surgery for varicose veins is a minimally invasive, nonablative technique that preserves the saphenous vein and helps avoid excision of varicosities. It represents a physiologic approach to the surgical treatment of varicose veins based on knowledge of the underlying venous pathophysiology gained through detailed duplex scanning. A change in venous hemodynamics is attained through fragmentation of the blood column by interruption of the refluxing saphenous trunks, closure of the origin of the refluxing varicose branches, and preservation of the communicating veins that drain the incompetent varicose veins into the deep venous system. After surgery, varicose veins regress through a reduction in hydrostatic pressure and efficient emptying of the superficial system by the musculo-venous pump. Obvious advantages of this technique are that it is done in an ambulatory setting, minimizes the risk of surgical complications, and permits a rapid return to full activity. The long-term hemodynamic improvement and recurrence rate of this technique remain to be established.