Critical Limb Ischemia: A Practical Up-To-Date Review.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most advanced form of peripheral artery disease. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and high management costs. It carries a high risk of amputation and local infection. Moreover, cardiovascular complications remain a major concern. Although it is a well-known entity and new technological and therapeutic advances have been made, this condition remains poorly addressed, with significantly heterogeneous management, especially in nonexperienced centers. This review, from a third-level dedicated inpatient and outpatient cardioangiology structure, aims to provide an updated summary on the topic of CLI of its complexity, encompassing epidemiological, social, economical and, in particular, diagnostic/imaging issues, together with potential therapeutic strategies (medical, endovascular, and surgical), including the evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors, the diagnosis, and treatment together with prognostic stratification.

Distal embolisation during carotid stenting is predicted by circulating levels of LDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein.

AIMS: Distal embolisation during carotid artery stenting (CAS) is the main cause of cerebral complications; thus, the amount of embolisation occurring during CAS can be considered as a surrogate endpoint of cerebral complications. Our aim was to find patient characteristics which are associated with a higher risk of embolisation during CAS. METHODS AND RESULTS: From January to December 2010 all consecutive patients undergoing CAS with embolic protection at three medium- to high-volume Italian centres were prospectively enrolled in this multicentre study. After CAS, the embolic debris was classified by visual inspection into two groups: "scarce" (no debris or hardly visible debris), and "relevant" (visible embolic debris) embolisation. Two hundred and thirty-six consecutive patients (79% males, 32.7% symptomatic) were enrolled. Open cell stents were used in 52.7% of the patients, distal filters were employed in 85.5% and proximal protection in 14.5%. Procedural success was achieved in 100% of procedures. Relevant embolisation was observed in 16.1% of patients, including those who suffered all the periprocedural complications (4.2%). At multivariate statistical analysis, high circulating LDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels were the only factors associated with relevant embolisation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, high circulating LDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels were associated with relevant embolisation after CAS, opening up the hypothesis that therapy with statins before elective CAS may reduce plaque embolisation and improve outcome. (EudraCT number: 016737-95).

Relation of carotid intima-media thickness and aortic valve sclerosis (from the ISMIR study ["Ispessimento Medio Intimale e Rischio Cardiovascolare"] of the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Echography).

Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) have recently emerged as important predictive factors for cardiovascular (CV) events. However, few data are available on their association and the respective roles of major CV risk factors in determining either condition. In this study, 479 asymptomatic subjects (mean age 58 +/- 13 years, 62% men) were assessed, without histories of CV disease, consecutively referred for comprehensive evaluations by echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography because of the presence of > or = 1 risk factor. Common carotid artery IMT and aortic valve morphology and function were analyzed. The mean IMT was 0.82 +/- 0.19 mm. The prevalence of increased carotid IMT (>0.80 mm) and AVS was 60.8% and 18.4%, respectively. The prevalence of increased IMT was 79.6% in subjects with AVS and 56.5% in those without AVS (relative risk 2.99, 95% confidence interval 1.72 to 5.21, p <0.001). On multivariate analysis, increased IMT was significantly and independently associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, family history of CV disease, and age. Only age emerged as an independent predictor of AVS. The presence of both markers was independently associated only with hypertension and age. In conclusion, increased carotid IMT was strongly associated with AVS in a population of asymptomatic patients. IMT and AVS were differently related to individual CV risk factors, and their association seems to be correlated mainly with age and hypertension.

Carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic patients with arterial hypertension without clinical cardiovascular disease: relation with left ventricular geometry and mass and coexisting risk factors.

We analyzed in NYHA I hypertensives the interactions between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT), Hypertension and Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and relationships between IMT, CV risk factors and left ventricular (LV) geometric remodelling. 198 asymptomatic, never treated, essential hypertensives (age: 58.2 +/- 13) and 67 (age-gender matched) healthy subjects, were studied. Complete clinical examination, 2D Doppler echocardiography and vascular echography were performed in all study subjects. Major values of IMT are present in concentric LVH. Distribution of IMT among risk factors groups shows an higher IMT respect to increasing number of risk factors (P < 0.001). Significant correlation are present between pulse pressure and IMT (P < 0.006; r = 0.19) and IMT and LVM (P < 0.0001; r = 0.35). Altered patterns of LV geometry and carotid structural changes occur in many patients with essential hypertension. LVH or carotid remodeling are greater in elderly, in patients with higher systolic BP and with associated CV risk factors.

Congenital hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava and inherited thrombophilia: rare associated risk factors for idiopathic deep vein thrombosis. A case report.

In young patients, acquired and genetic causes of deep vein thrombosis frequently interact. The association of congenital hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava with antithrombin III deficiency has never been described in the literature as a causal factor of proximal deep vein thrombosis in young patients. We report the case of an 18-year-old patient affected by deep vein thrombosis due to this rare association without other common risk factors.

Passive smoking and coronary heart disease.

A large series of clinico-epidemiological studies, meta-analyses and experimental findings have concluded that there is a relationship between coronary heart disease (CHD) and passive smoking either after acute or chronic exposure. Cigarette smoking is the most important cause of premature death in industrialized countries because it is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer and arterial disease. In family homes as well as in workplaces, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is associated with an increased risk of CHD in exposed non-smokers when compared to un-exposed non-smokers. Different anatomical structures are damaged by ETS. The endothelium, artery wall and heart are target organs for passive smoking. Therefore, smoking cessation will benefit both smokers and those exposed to ETS.