ACE gene polymorphism in peripheral vascular disease.

Peripheral vascular disease is an atherosclerotic process. It has been suggested that angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism is associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme in Turkish patients with peripheral vascular disease in Western part of Turkey. We also investigated the relationship between serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and distribution of genotypes in both patients and control group. The study group consisted of 78 patients with peripheral vascular disease. The control group consisted of 73 healthy adults. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activities in patients were higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). Angiotensin converting enzyme genotype frequencies in patients were observed as 28.2%, 18% and 53.8% for DD, II and ID polymorphism, respectively. These frequencies in controls were 42.5%, 20.5% and 37% for DD, II and ID, respectively. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activities in both groups with II genotype were significantly lower than those with ID and DD genotype (p<0.05). Although conflicting results have been reported about this polymorphism in patients with peripheral vascular disease, we suggest that the angiotensin converting enzyme ID genotype may be a risk factor for peripheral vascular disease.

[Laparotomy indications in pelvic fractures]. / Laparotomieindikationen bei Beckenbrüchen.

Infra-umbilical abdominal section concomitant with peritoneal lavage was applied to 74 patients with pelvic fracture and has proved to be helpful in early diagnosis of intra-abdominal organ injuries. However, the percentage of falsely positive results was found to be as high as 17.3 per cent, in the context of pelvic fractures. This has been attributable to the fact that the pelvic floor is likely to be elevated by the haematoma caused by a pelvic fracture, and the syringe may thus get accidentally into the haematoma.

[Splenorrhaphy]. / Die Splenorraphie.

In 59 splenic injuries, with 2 of them being caused by penetrating abdominal trauma, and 57 caused by blunt abdominal trauma the feasibility of splenorrhaphy instead of splenectomy was evaluated. In 22 cases out of a total of 59 splenic tissue preventing intervention like splenorrhaphy and partial splenectomy could be practiced.