Low mean platelet volume is associated with critical limb ischemia in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) was recently published as a possible marker of coronary artery disease in patients at high risk for major adverse cardiac events. Because platelets play an important role in atherosclerosis, we examined the relationship between critical limb ischemia (CLI) and MPV in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Our study comprised 2124 PAOD patients. Univariate logistic regression was performed to analyze potential predictors for CLI. Nagelkerke's R² is reported. Cross validation was performed using the leave-one-out principle. ROC analyses were performed to identify the best cut off value for MPV predicting CLI; to this end, Youden's index was calculated. For CLI diabetes (p < 0.001, OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.97-3.02), hsCRP (p < 0.001, OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.01), age (p < 0.001, OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06), thrombocytosis (p = 0.025, OR 1.84, 95%CI 1.08-3.14), and MPV (p = 0.003, OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.94) were significant independent predictors for CLI. ROC analysis (AUC: 0.55, 95% CI 0.52-0.58, p < 0.001) showed ≤10.2 as the best cut off value for MPV to predict CLI. As there is a significant relationship between low MPV and a high risk for CLI in PAOD patients, MPV can be used to identify patients who are likely to develop CLI.

[Acute arterial occlusion associated disseminated hydatidosis]. / Oclusión arterial aguda asociada a hidatidosis diseminada.

Hydatidosis or echinococcosis are terms used to denote the zoonotic infestation caused by adult and larval stages (metacestode) of the cestode from the genus Echinococcus (family tenidae). The term hydatidosis should be applied to the infestation caused by the metacestode while echinococcosis for the larval and adult stages. In Peru there is a high prevalence of this infection, liver and lung being the most affected organs. There are factors from the host and from the infectious agent that contribute to this infection, with the immune component of the host as an important infection and dissemination point. A case of acute arterial occlusion associated with disseminated hydatidosis in a 54 years old patient, born and from Huancavelica, with sudden onset of an acute arterial obstruction is reported. The patient did not improve after surgery and died within 48 hours of presentation.

Oclusión arterial aguda asociada a hidatidosis diseminada / Acute arterial occlusion associated disseminated hydatidosis

Hidatidosis o equinococosis son términos usados para denominar a la infestación zoonótica causada por los estadios adulto y larvario (metacéstode) del céstode del género Equinococcus (familia tenidae). El término hidatidosis debe ser aplicado a la infestación por el metacéstode mientras que el de equinococosis a los estadios larvario y adulto. En el Perú existe una alta prevalencia de esta infección siendo el hígado y pulmón los órganos más afectados. Existen factores tanto del agente infeccioso como del hospedero que contribuyen a esta infección, donde el componente inmunológico del hospedero es un punto importante tanto en la infección como en la diseminación. En el presente artículo se reporta un caso de oclusión arterial aguda asociada a hidatidosis diseminada en un paciente de 54 años de edad, natural y procedente de Huancavelica, de inicio súbito con un cuadro de obstrucción arterial aguda; que no mejoró luego de la cirugía con fallecimiento a las 48 horas de la presentación.

Hydatidosis or echinococcosis are terms used to denote the zoonotic infestation caused by adult and larval stages (metacestode) of the cestode from the genus Echinococcus (family tenidae). The term hydatidosis should be applied to the infestation caused by the metacestode while echinococcosis for the larval and adult stages. In Peru there is a high prevalence of this infection, liver and lung being the most affected organs. There are factors from the host and from the infectious agent that contribute to this infection, with the immune component of the host as an important infection and dissemination point. A case of acute arterial occlusion associated with disseminated hydatidosis in a 54 years old patient, born and from Huancavelica, with sudden onset of an acute arterial obstruction is reported. The patient did not improve after surgery and died within 48 hours of presentation.

Hydatid embolism from a thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm presenting as gangrenous toes.

Cystic echinococcosis (hydatid cyst), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, has worldwide distribution and poses a health problem in endemic areas. Embolization of hydatid cysts into the vascular tree is an unusual manifestation of the disease. The hydatid embolism results from spontaneous or traumatic rupture of the cyst, and rare case reports of this kind are not well documented in the literature. We report a case of a hydatid embolism from a ruptured hydatid in a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta. A 45-year-old woman presented with gangrenous changes of the toes of her right foot. After embolectomy, the histopathology of the embolus was doubtful about its being blood clots around hydatid membranes. Postoperatively, computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. Definitive surgery for the pseudoaneurysm was done during a second operation. Numerous hydatid cysts were evacuated from the pseudoaneurysm. This report emphasizes the need for an early diagnosis and treatment of echinococcosis before disabling and life-threatening complications occur.

Primary vascular echinococcosis: an uncommon cause of chronic iliofemoral arterial occlusion.

We report the case of a 33-year-old woman who was admitted to our clinic with the diagnosis of chronic arterial occlusion of the right lower extremity. Preoperative angiography suggested an iliofemoral atherosclerotic occlusion. During surgery multiple hydatid cysts causing iliofemoral occlusion were found and excised. Arterial reconstruction was performed using an iliofemoral bypass technique with a polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft. This case emphasizes that, in sheep-raising countries or in patients from such countries, primary vascular echinococcosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic arterial occlusion.

Cerebrovascular occlusive disease: hydatidosis.

We reviewed six patients with cerebral hydatid embolism from the heart. Although hydatid disease is becoming less common in the world as a whole, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of embolic stroke in children, especially in the infested areas where hydatidosis is endemic.

Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery due to cysticercotic angiitis.

Three patients with cysticercosis developed a cerebral infarct secondary to the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery or its major branches. Histopathologic examination revealed a large subarachnoid cysticercus surrounding the occluded arteries in two patients and diffuse thickening of the leptomeninges in one. Blood vessels around the parasite showed inflammatory changes that caused either occlusive endarteritis or thrombosis due to disruption of the endothelium. Cysticercosis should be considered as a cause of occlusion of the major intracranial vessels, particularly in young patients living in areas where this disease is endemic.

Spermatic artery obstruction caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera and Céspedes, 1971.

An 8-year-old boy was admitted to hospital with acute testicular pain. A diagnosis of torsion of the testicle was made, and an orchidectomy was performed. Histopathological study showed necrosis of the testicular parenchyma caused by arterial obstruction, and adults of Angiostrongylus costaricensis were found within the spermatic arteries. In addition, heavy eosinophilic inflammatory reactions and unfertilized eggs were observed in the excised tissues.