[Percutaneous treatment of a ruptured sinus Valsalva aneurysm with double orifices]. / Çift agizli yirtilmis Valsalva sinüsü anevrizmasinin perkütan yolla tedavisi.

An aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva (SVA) may rupture into the cardiac cavities and cause abnormal connections between these cavities and the aorta. The right atrium and/or right ventricle are the cavities into which the SVA is most commonly observed to rupture. A 30-year-old patient presented to our cardiology clinic with the complaint of dyspnea. His physical examination revealed a thrill localized in the 5th intercostal space on the right edge of the sternum and systolic-diastolic murmur beginning from the aortic focus and spreading to the neck and back along the right edge of the sternum. The echocardiographic and invasive examinations revealed two defects leading to a passage from the right sinus Valsalva to the right ventricle. While the left-to-right shunt ratio was calculated as 3.8, the anatomic locations and dimensions of the defects were found to be eligible for percutaneous closure. Using the Amplatzer Duct Occluder I device, the defects were closed in two sessions. Although the classical treatment method of ruptured SVA is surgical repair, percutaneous closure devices may be used as a reliable alternative method in suitable patients.

Determination of subclinical atherosclerosis in plaque type psoriasis patients without traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. Therefore, persistent skin inflammation in psoriasis patients may contribute to the development of premature atherosclerosis, as it occurs in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and psoriasis by using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in psoriatic patients. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-seven plaque-type psoriasis patients (31 males, 26 females; mean age 41±10.8 years) and 60 healthy individuals (32 males, 28 females; mean age 40±9.4 years) were included. Atherosclerotic risk factors were excluded in both of the groups. Demographic, bio-chemical data, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score of the psoriasis group, and disease duration were recorded. Carotid-femoral artery PWV and CIMT values were compared. RESULTS: PWV, and the maximum and average CIMT values of psoriasis patients were higher than those of the healthy group (PWV: 7.04±1.1 m/sn vs. 6.03±0.61 m/sn, p<0.001; maximum CIMT: 0.86±0.09 mm vs. 0.77±0.06 mm, p<0.001; mean CIMT: 0.73±0.09 mm vs. 0.66±0.06 mm p<0.001, respectively). Although there was no difference in the lipid levels of the groups, total/HDL cholesterol (4.40±1.26 vs. 3.88±1.18, p=0.02, respectively), and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios (2.78±0.98 vs. 2.32±0.92, p=0.01, respectively) of the psoriasis group were higher than those of the healthy group. A positive correlation was observed between PASI and the PWV (r=0.417, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the nonexistence of atherosclerotic risk factors, the risk of development of atherosclerosis is higher in psoriasis patients compared to healthy individuals. In addition to damage of the artery wall caused by systemic inflammation, lipid metabolism disorders may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in these patients.