Expression in Whole Blood Samples of miRNA-191 and miRNA-455-3p in Patients with AAA and Their Relationship to Clinical Outcomes after Endovascular Repair.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to quantify and evaluate the expression response of miRNA-191 and miRNA-455-3p endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) based in whole blood samples. METHODS: This report describes a prospective study of a single center of 30 patients with AAA who underwent endovascular repair. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The differential expression of the miRNAs was performed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction method, after extraction of the RNA from the blood samples at the 2 moments. In addition, bioinformatic tools were used to determine pathophysiological pathways related to AAA. RESULTS: The miR-191 and miR-455-3p were overexpressed preoperatively. After 6 months postoperatively, miR-191 (median 0.98, IQR 0.5-2.1, P < 0.0001) and miR-455-3p (median 1.4, IQR 0.6-3.1, P = 0.0003) presented a significant reduction in their expressions. There was no correlation between the diameter of the aneurysm and the expression of the miRNAs studied. In addition, analysis of the influence of the various types of devices used for the endovascular treatment of AAA showed no significant differences in the expression of miR-191 and miR-455-3p. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusion of the aneurysmal sac after endovascular treatment induces a decrease in the expression of the studied miRNAs in whole blood samples, which suggests a possible use of them as biomarkers of therapeutic success.

Cirurgia aberta e endovascular no tratamento de aneurisma de artéria poplítea: experiência de cinco anos do HCRP-FMRP-USP / Open versus endovascular surgery for treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms: 5 years’ experience at the HCRP-FMRP-USP

Aneurismas de artéria poplítea (AAPs) correspondem a 70,00% dos aneurismas periféricos. A indicação cirúrgica é para aneurismas com diâmetros maiores que 2,0 cm ou sintomáticos. O tratamento é feito por técnicas cirúrgicas convencionais ou endovasculares. Esta última tem ganho muitos adeptos, mas ainda não há consenso estabelecido sobre sua indicação. Objetivo Apresentar a experiência da Divisão de Cirurgia Vascular e Endovascular do Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo no tratamento dos AAPs. Método Foram revisados casos de reparo convencional e endovascular de AAPs tratados nos últimos cinco anos, avaliando dados demográficos, comorbidades, indicação cirúrgica, complicações pré e pós-operatórias precoces e tardias, tempo de internação e de perviedade em até um ano. Resultados Foram realizadas no período dez cirurgias endovasculares (CE) e 21 cirurgias abertas (CA). O grupo CE teve maior frequência de comorbidades. Houve maior frequência de pacientes sintomáticos no grupo CA (85,00%) do que no grupo CE (40,00%). O Grupo CE apresentou menor número de complicações clínicas e cirúrgicas. A idade entre os grupos e o tempo de internação de cada grupo não apresentaram diferença estatística. A perviedade primária em um ano no Grupo CE foi de 80,00%, enquanto no Grupo CA foi de 75,00%. Conclusão O tratamento endovascular para AAPs apresenta bons resultados, em termos de perviedade com taxas de complicações aceitáveis, em pacientes com risco cirúrgico elevado e anatomia favorável, justificando, assim, a necessidade de mais estudos controlados para modificar a posição da técnica endovascular como uma terapia alternativa para casos selecionados.

Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) account for 70% of peripheral aneurysms. Surgery is indicated for aneurysms that have diameters greater than 2.0 cm or are symptomatic. Repair can be achieved by conventional surgical techniques or using endovascular methods, which are becoming increasingly popular, but for which there is not yet a consensus on indications. Objective To describe the experience of treating PAAs at the vascular and endovascular surgery department of the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto, affiliated to the Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil). Method A review was conducted of cases of conventional and endovascular repair of PAAs over the last 5 years, analyzing demographic data, comorbidities, surgical indications, preoperative and early and late postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and patency, during follow-up of up to 1 year. Results During the period analyzed, ten endovascular surgeries (ES) and 21 open surgeries (OS) were performed. The ES group exhibited a higher frequency of comorbidities. There was a higher frequency of symptomatic patients in the OS group (85%) than in the ES group (40%). The ES group exhibited a lower number of clinical and surgical complications. There were no statistical differences between the groups in terms of age or length of hospital stay. Primary patency at 1 year was 80% in the ES group and 75% in the OS group. Conclusions Endovascular treatment for PAAs offers good results in terms of patency, with acceptable complication rates, in patients with high surgical risk and favorable anatomy. Controlled studies are therefore warranted to validate the endovascular technique and afford it the status of an alternative procedure for use in selected cases.

Endovascular Approach to Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The endovascular approach has shown high initial technical success rates, good patency rates, and minimal complications in treating transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS). The objective of this study was to describe our experience with an endovascular approach to TRAS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective single-institutional review of all kidney transplant procedures performed at our institution from September 2009 to September 2014. All consecutive cases of TRAS were included. RESULTS: From a total of 183 kidney transplantations, 16 patients had TRAS. Mean time from transplantation to TRAS diagnosis was 201.8 days. Stenoses or hemodynamic significant kinkings were located at the anastomosis (7), proximal (5) and middle (4) portions of the transplant artery. All patients were treated with angioplasty and primary balloon-expanding stenting. Early technical success was 93.75% and local complication rate was 12.5%. No deaths occurred. Mean serum creatinine level dropped from 3.87 mg/dL to 2.91 mg/dL after 24 hours; 1.85 mg/dL after one month; and 1.67 mg/dL after three months (P<0.05). Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate increased from 31.60 mL/min to 39.53 mL/min after 24 hours; 50.92 mL/min after one month; and 55.05 mL/min after three months (P<0.05). Doppler ultrasound criteria normalized after the procedure. Number of classes of antihypertensive drugs was not different before and after the procedure (P=0.38). Mean follow-up time was 9.75 months. One patient had a restenosis and required surgical intervention to restore graft function. CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular approach to TRAS with primary balloon-expanding stenting was safe and had a high rate of technical success. It was effective for restore and maintain the renal function in transplant kidney grafts with a low rate of restenosis.