Effects of cigarette smoke, carbon monoxide and nicotine on the uptake of fibrinogen by the canine arterial wall.

An animal model has been used to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke, carbon monoxide and nicotine on the uptake of 125I-labelled fibrinogen by the arterial wall. The uptake of fibrinogen in the smoking group (5.5 +/- 2.8 counts.cm-2 x 10(-4)) and carbon monoxide group (6.1 +/- 2.7 counts.cm-2 x 10(-4)) was greater than the uptake in the control group (4.5 +/- 1.4 counts.cm-2 x 10(-4)) but this difference was not significant. In the nicotine group, there was a highly significant increase in wall uptake of 125I-fibrinogen (9.1 +/- 2.1 counts.cm-2 x 10(-4)) (P less than or equal to 0.001). These results suggest that nicotine, a major constituent of cigarette smoke, increases the retention of 125I-fibrinogen by the arterial wall and that this might be one mechanism by which cigarette smoking exerts its atherogenic effect.

Modified plasma-derived lipoproteins in human atherosclerotic plaques.

Low density lipoproteins extracted from surgical specimens of human atherosclerotic plaques (A-LDL) showed altered electrophoretic mobility indicating a greater negative charge than that of plasma LDL (P-LDL). A-LDL but not P-LDL showed high affinity binding/degradation by human monocyte-derived macrophages; this was inhibited by acetylated LDL but not by native P-LDL. Following injection of 125I-labelled autologous P-LDL prior to reconstructive arterial surgery, polyacrylamide and agarose gel electrophoresis of A-LDL extracted from arterial intima showed that the A-LDL and its apolipoprotein B moiety were derived from P-LDL; the electrophoretic mobility of the product A-LDL was greater than that of native P-LDL. The compositions of arterial intermediate density lipoprotein (A-IDL) and A-LDL differed from those obtained from human plasma intermediate density lipoprotein (P-IDL) and P-LDL. A-IDL showed a reduced triglyceride content and increased esterified and unesterified cholesterol. Although the total cholesterol content of A-LDL was similar to that of P-LDL, there was an increase in unesterified cholesterol and a decrease of cholesteryl ester. These studies indicate that LDL extracted from human atherosclerotic plaque is derived from and modified from P-LDL in vivo. Compared with native P-LDL, A-LDL showed differences in charge and composition, associated with its high affinity binding by the acetyl LDL receptor of human macrophages.

Lymphangiomatosis of the limbs. Clinicopathologic analysis of a series with a good prognosis.

Six cases of a distinctive but poorly recognized variant of lymphangiomatosis with predominant or exclusive involvement of the soft tissues of the limb/limb girdle are described. The six patients were male and presented with slowly progressive swelling of the involved limb. The age of onset was at birth (three cases), 3 months (one case), 11 years (one case) and 12 years (one case). Five patients had involvement of the lower extremity and one of the right upper extremity. Three patients had concomitant asymptomatic bone involvement either in the affected limb (two cases) or in distant bones (one case). Only one patient had visceral involvement that was limited to the ipsilateral thorax and was associated with chylothorax. Diagnosis was confirmed in all but one patient by lymphangiography. Treatment consisted principally of surgical reduction with significant clinical improvement. No patient later developed systemic involvement and the clinical course was benign. The bone lesions did not progress in any patient. Histologically, each case was characterised by interconnecting, dilated lymphatic spaces, lined by a single, attenuated layer of endothelial cells, involving the dermis, subcutis, and occasionally, underlying fascia and skeletal muscle with characteristic and extensive "dissection" of collagen and surrounding normal adnexal structures. Despite the absence of red blood cells in the vascular spaces, interstitial hemosiderin deposition was prominent in four cases. As opposed to most cases of lymphangiomatosis, which usually have extensive visceral involvement associated with a very poor prognosis, involvement in this variant is limited almost exclusively to soft tissues of the limb and bone and is associated with good prognosis.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance of rat pancreatic grafts.

This study investigates whether phosphate metabolite concentrations and intracellular pH alter in early acute rejection of rat pancreatic allografts. In vitro biochemical assays, in vitro 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy of the grafts were compared. Duct-ligated, vascularized rat pancreatic isografts and allografts were transplanted onto the infrarenal aorta of the recipients with inferior vena cava venous drainage. In order to obtain reproducible acute rejection, allografting was performed across a major histocompatibility barrier. For the in vitro experiments freeze-clamped graft extracts were prepared and analyzed for adenosine triphosphate concentration by fluorimetry, then placed in an 8.5 Tesla vertical bore magnet. 31P NMR spectra were recorded using a Bruker AM 360 spectrometer operating at 145.7 MHz for 31P. Spectra were acquired from nontransplanted controls; 3-day, 5-day, and 1-month posttransplant isografts, and 3-day and 5-day posttransplant allografts. All grafts examined were functioning satisfactorily. The ATP content of the extracts was significantly lower in the 3- and 5-day allografts than the respective isografts. Invasive in vivo 31P NMR spectra were recorded using surface coils adjacent to the grafts from functioning 5-day posttransplant isografts and allografts (i.e., 3 days prior to an expected elevation in blood sugar from acute rejection in the allografts). The ATP/inorganic phosphate ratios and pH from the in vivo spectra were significantly lower in the allografts than in the isografts. It is concluded that changes in intracellular metabolism occur early in the process of acute rejection and that 31P NMR spectroscopy may provide a means of diagnosing this before current methods.

Hereditary angioneurotic oedema: a neglected diagnosis.

A case of hereditary angioneurotic oedema, which was only diagnosed after presentation to several hospital departments, is reported. It was then discovered that the mother of the patient had the same condition but that, unusually, it appeared to have been in remission for more than 20 years. This disease, due to C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, is potentially fatal but easily treatable. The diagnosis is often missed.

The relative importance of incompetent communicating veins in the production of varicose veins and venous ulcers.

To investigate the possible anatomic and hemodynamic reasons for the variability in response to surgery for venous insufficiency (a 50% ulcer recurrence rate following ligation of incompetent perforating veins), we performed phlebography and venous pressure measurements in 109 legs of 77 patients and in 30 healthy volunteers. Patients were divided into five groups: saphenofemoral incompetence alone (group 1), saphenopopliteal incompetence (group 2), incompetent lower leg communicating veins alone (group 3), calf communicating veins and saphenous incompetence (group 4), and postthrombotic limbs (group 5). Patients in groups 1 through 4 had phlebographically normal deep veins. As compared to the normal controls (68%), preoperative pressure measurements revealed a significantly smaller pressure fall during exercise (deltaVPex) in all groups, which was the least marked in groups 3 (26%) and 5 (17%). These latter two groups failed to increase their pressure fall with thigh tourniquet. deltaVPex 3 months after operation demonstrated normalization in groups 1, 2, and 4 (52%, 57% and 59% respectively). Groups 3 and 5 improved little following surgical ligation. Whenever saphenous vein incompetence coexists with lower leg communicating vein incompetence, the former appears to be the dominant cause of the pressure abnormalities. Based on venous pressure measurements and phlebography, patients with normal deep veins and who increase their deltaVPex with a thigh tourniquet should respond favourably to orthodox surgical ligation of the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction. By contrast, if no change in deltaVPex is noted in patients with incompetent perforating veins and the deep veins look abnormal on the phlebogram, then ligation of the incompetent communicating veins would appear to be associated with a high recurrence rate.

Doppler examination vs clinical and phlebographic detection of the location of incompetent perforating veins: a prospective study.

Accuracy in excess of 80% has been claimed both for ultrasound and for phlebographic localization of incompetent perforating veins (ICPVs). To test these claims, a blind prospective study was carried out to compare three methods of simultaneous ICPV detection with operative findings. ICPV localization on the medial side of 39 legs was made by clinical examination, ultrasound, and ascending phlebography, each by a different observer. The ICPVs were confirmed at operation. All three methods were comparable in their accuracy in predicting the anatomical site of ICPVs. Phlebography produced fewer (seven) and ultrasound more (49) false-positive results than clinical examination did. There was no specific advantage of ultrasound over clinical examination. The advantages of phlebography, (1) fewer unnecessary explorations and (2) assessment of the status of the deep venous sytem, must be weighed against its cost and morbidity.

The effect of oxpentifylline ('Trental') on fibrinolytic activity and plasma fibrinogen levels.

Twenty healthy volunteers were treated for 3 months with oxpenifylline (200 mg 3-times a day) or a placebo in a controlled double-blind randomized trial. The volunteers taking the oxpenifylline showed a significant increase in their fibrinolytic activity, as assessed by the dilute blood clot lysis time and fibrin plate lysis area, and a significant reduction in their plasma fibrinogen levels. No change was found in the control group. These findings suggest that oxpentifylline may be valuable in the treatment of small vessel occlusive disease associated with lowered fibrinolytic activity and raised fibrinogen levels.

Evaluation of a new classification of cerebrovascular disease: CHAT.

A new scheme that classifies cerebrovascular disease on the basis of current and prior clinical symptoms, arteriographic findings, and target organ abnormalities has been evaluated. The scheme proved to be easy to learn and to use. Its utility was demonstrated by the previously unreported distinctions that became apparent when various patient subsets were analyzed according to the CHAT classification. These included an improved probability of stroke-free survival in patients operated on for brief strokes (transient ischemic attack) as opposed to temporary strokes (reversible ischemic neurologic deficit), and similarly improved survival probability in patients operated on for amaurosis fugax in comparison to those with carotid territory hemispheric transient ischemic attacks. The impact of multiple arterial lesions and positive computerized tomography scan findings appeared to be minimal with respect to both late stroke and survival in our preliminary observations. The simplicity and utility of the CHAT scheme make it a useful method to evaluate and report clinical experience with cerebrovascular disease.

Peri-aortic fibrosis: progression and regression.

The natural history and aetiology of peri-aortic fibrosis is unknown. In one of our patients in whom steroid treatment had successfully controlled the progression of the disease' cessation of treatment was associated with recurrence of the fibrosis, progressive ureteric obstruction and dilatation of the aorta. In another patient, graft replacement of the aorta was associated with regression of the fibrosis but in a third patient replacement of the aorta did not prevent progression to complete ureteric obstruction. It would seem that it is the presence of the fibrosis that engenders the aortic dilatation not the presence of a patent aorta, dilated or not.

The investigation and surgery of the post-thrombotic syndrome.

This paper reviews the problems encountered in the diagnosis and management of the post-thrombotic syndrome. The functional abnormalities found in this condition and the various methods available for their investigation are described. Past methods of treatment are reviewed and the necessity for objective functional assessment of new operations is stressed. The methods of operative treatment are outlined and the results so far reported are evaluated. The relative roles of surgery and conservative treatment are discussed.

Lymphoedema: pathophysiology and classification.

This paper reviews current knowledge and hypotheses about the physiology of lymph production and lymph flow and the aetiology and classification of lymphoedema. One of the earlier contributions in the 1930's by Allen suggested that primary lymphoedema was caused by congenital underdevelopment of lymph vessels. At that time he described two clinical varieties (congenital and praecox) but later suggested a further subdivision into inflammatory and non-inflammatory types of lymphoedema. Kinmonth in 1957 produced the first clinical classification dividing all cases into primary or secondary lymphoedema but at that time gave no indication as to the cause of the primary variety. In the 1950's Kinmonth also developed a radiological classification which has contributed considerably to our knowledge of the anatomical abnormalities of the lymphatic system in primary lymphoedema. However, despite the widespread use of Kinmonth's classification the lymphographic appearances in primary lymphoedema give little or no clue to the aetiology of the disease process. The aetiology of primary lymphoedema is not known. There are various descriptive classifications based on age of onset and radiological findings for instance, but none attempts to explain the pathophysiology of the disease. We have therefore described our current knowledge of the known physiology and the potential abnormalities of the collection and passage of lymph from the interstitial space to the blood system. Based on this we have presented a simple classification of the aetiology of lymphoedema. Thus primary lymphoedema may be defined as lymphoedema caused by a primary abnormality or disease of the lymph conducting elements of the lymph vessels or lymph nodes. Secondary lymphoedema is oedema caused by disease in the nodes or vessels that began elsewhere (e.g., neoplasia or filariasis), or lymphocytic proliferative disorders such as Hodgkin's disease or following surgical extirpation of lymph nodes or vessels. There are three groups of primary lymphoedema in which the functional abnormality and its cause are known; namely (a) large vessel abnormalities such as congenital aplasia of the thoracic duct or cysterna chyli, (b) congenital lymphatic valvular incompetence or congenital aplasia and (c) lymph node fibrosis. The remainder are characterised by a reduced number of lymphatics on lymphography. Such patients can be described as having obliterated lymphatics. If they present within a few years of birth they were probably born with too few lymphatics. However, those who present later in life may have acquired obliterative disease, the cause of which is still obscure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Gluteal necrosis and paraplegia following postoperative bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion.

Complications associated with occlusion of the internal iliac arteries are seen less commonly than those following occlusion of the external iliac arteries, because the pelvis has a good collateral circulation. This paper describes a case of severe gluteal necrosis, paraplegia and acute renal failure following an aorto-bifemoral bypass, which we believe was caused by bilateral iliac artery and pelvic collateral circulation occlusion.

The relationship between venous pressure and vein wall fibrinolytic activity.

Vein wall fibrinolytic activity has been shown to be greater in the arms than the legs and it has been suggested that this difference is related to the greater hydrostatic venous pressure in the leg. Vein wall fibrinolytic activity and foot vein pressure has been measured in 40 legs from 30 patients, 25 with uncomplicated varicose veins and 15 with lipodermatosclerosis. No statistically significant correlation could be demonstrated between vein wall fibrinolytic activity and measured foot vein pressure.

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography in the management of peripheral vascular disease.

All patients undergoing peripheral injection intravenous digital subtraction angiography (ivDSA) for peripheral vascular disease during 1987 have been reviewed (140 patients). The radiological distribution of disease was aorto-iliac occlusive (AI) 36 (23%), femoropopliteal (FP) 68 (44%), mixed AI/FP 36 (23%). Clinical diagnosis was correct for AI disease in 92%, for FP disease in 65% and for mixed AI/FP disease in 47%. ivDSA was the only investigation required for management in 111 of all 140 patients (79%), and in 33 of the 36 patients with AI disease (92%), but was less accurate in defining femoropopliteal disease, 22 patients (32%) requiring additional arteriography. Conventional arteriography was performed in 200 patients in 1982 compared with 100 in 1987. ivDSA is particularly suitable for the investigation of AI disease, a condition which is accurately detected by clinical examination, with a reduction in morbidity and bed occupancy.

The value of arteriography of the hand in the Raynaud's syndrome.

The hand arteriograms of 18 patients with Raynaud's syndrome are reviewed. In 17 of the patients the arteriographic abnormality consists of digital artery occlusions, collaterals and diminished vascularity of the tips of the affected fingers. These changes are non-specific and do not correlate with the clinically diagnosed underlying arterial disease. The results of upper thoracie sympathectomy are unrelated to the type or severity of the angiographic changes. It is suggested that hand arteriography has little place in the diagnosis or management of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Arteriography is only of value to demonstrate a proximal source of digital emboli.

Differentiation of ruptured aortic aneurysm from acute expansion by computerised tomography.

CT scans were obtained in five patients who presented with abdominal pain and were found to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm without evidence of hypovolaemia. A periaortic haematoma and evidence of a rupture was found on scanning in three of the patients and confirmed at immediate operation. A retrospective diagnosis of rapidly expanding (acute) aneurysm was made in the other two patients in whom no other pathology was found at early elective operation. CT scanning is useful in differentiating small well-controlled ruptures from rapidly expanding aneurysms.

Monitoring cerebral perfusion during carotid endarterectomy.

Transcranial pulsed Doppler ultrasound was used to monitor blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of two patients during ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy. In the first patient the ultrasound data demonstrated a non-functioning shunt which was corrected by repositioning the distal end of the shunt. In the second patient MCA blood velocity data demonstrated that clamping of the external carotid artery would have resulted in complete cessation of MCA flow throughout endarterectomy. These cases illustrate the benefit that this technique offers to the individual patient undergoing carotid surgery.

Pretibial myxoedema.

This paper reviews the clinical, endocrine and lymphatic status of 6 patients with pretibial myxoedema. The lymphatics were studied to determine whether they were involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The main lymph trunks were normal although there was occasionally some collateral flow and some of the lymph nodes had small irregular filling defects. These changes suggest compression of the lymphatics by the myxomatous material and the deposition of mucinous material in the lymph nodes. There was no evidence of a primary lymphatic abnormality.

A comparison of preoperative long saphenous phlebography with operative dissection in assessing the suitability of long saphenous vein for use as a bypass graft.

A technique for assessing the anatomy and luminal diameter of the long saphenous vein by direct injection phlebography in patients being considered for reversed femoropopliteal vein bypass surgery is described. In 25 consecutive patients, 20 single veins, four double veins and one network of veins were all correctly delineated by this technique and subsequently confirmed at operation. Five saphenous veins could not be demonstrated above the knee but at operation one vein was found to be present and double from knee to groin. The minimum mean luminal diameter of the saphenous vein estimated from the X-ray after correction for magnification was 3.5 mm +/- 1.12 which was significantly less than the mean external diameter found at operation, 4.6 mm +/- 1.33 (P less than 0.001). The vein diameter found at operation invariably proved to be larger than the luminal diameter estimated from the X-ray. This allows a confident preoperative assumption of the minimum diameter that will be obtained after dissection and distension of the vein.