Qualitative and quantitative assessment of nailfold capillaries by capillaroscopy in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Nailfold capillaroscopy (NVC) is a diagnostic tool particularly useful in the differential diagnosis of rheumatic and connective tissue diseases. Although successfully applied since many years, little is known about prevalence and distribution of NVC changes in healthy individuals. PROBANDS AND METHODS: NVC was performed in 120 individuals (57 men and 63 women; age 18 to 70 years) randomly selected according to predefined age and sex strata. Diseases associated with NVC changes were excluded. The nailfolds of eight fingers were assessed according to standardized procedures. A scoring system was developed based on the distribution of the number of morphologically deviating capillaries, microhaemorrhages, and capillary density. RESULTS: Only 18 individuals (15 %) had no deviation in morphology, haemorrhages, or capillary density on any finger. Overall 67 % had morphological changes, 48 % had microhaemorrhages, and 40 % of volunteers below 40 years of age and 18 % above age 40 had less than 8 capillaries/mm. Among morphological changes tortous (43 %), ramified (47 %), and bushy capillaries (27 %) were the most frequently altered capillary types. A semiquantitative scoring system was developed in such a way that a score above 1 indicates an extreme position (above the 90th percentile) in the distribution of scores among healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Altered capillaries occur frequently among healthy individuals and should be interpreted as normal unless a suspicious increase in their frequency is determined by reference to the scoring system. Megacapillaries and diffuse loss of capillaries were not found and seem to be of specific diagnostic value.

Angio-Seal use in patients with peripheral arterial disease (ASPIRE).

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of complications after the use of an arterial closure device (Angio-Seal) in patients with peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: In 105 consecutive patients after transfemoral catheterization, the puncture site was closed using a closure device (Angio-Seal). Colour-flow-duplexsonography studies were conducted 1 to 4 days before, within 3 days after and 3 month after the intervention. RESULTS: All patients had peripheral arterial disease, 34 had calcification at the puncture site. Detection of calcification did not prevent device deployment. Complications (2 minor bleedings, 1 pseudoaneurysm) were not associated with high risk groups (these were: 69 antegrade punctures, 22 obese and 32 hypertensive patients). Three-month postinterventional diameter and blood velocity changes were <1%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with peripheral arterial disease in the region of the puncture site and patients at higher complication risk can safely and effectively be closed with an Angio-Seal device. At the puncture site, no lumen change can be observed 3 months postinterventional.

Efficacy and tolerability of liposomal heparin spraygel as an add-on treatment in the management of superficial venous thrombosis.

Superficial venous thrombosis usually resolves spontaneously in a few weeks. In most cases, treatment includes peroral analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs accompanied by the recommendation to wear elastic stockings and perform regular mild ambulation. In contrast to this "standard treatment," a recent ACCP guideline has recommended that patients affected by spontaneous superficial thrombophlebitis be treated with intermediate doses of unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of topically applied heparin spraygel in terms of reduction of local symptoms and signs of superficial venous thrombosis.

Transition from primary Raynaud's phenomenon to secondary Raynaud's phenomenon identified by diagnosis of an associated disease: results of ten years of prospective surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the early signs, risk factors, and rate of transition from primary Raynaud's phenomenon (primary RP) to secondary RP. METHODS: A clinical sample of 307 consecutive patients with RP was included in a prospective followup study. After an initial screening, 244 patients were classified as having primary RP, of whom 236 were followed up for a mean +/- SD of 11.2 +/- 3.9 years. Patients classified according to the screening as having suspected secondary RP underwent an extended screening program annually until transition to secondary RP occurred. RESULTS: The initial prevalence of secondary RP was 11%. The annual incidence of transition to suspected secondary RP was 2%, and the annual incidence of transition to secondary RP was 1%. Overall, 46 patients were classified as having suspected secondary RP, and 23 of these later were classified as having secondary RP. Older age at onset of RP (hazard ratio 2.59, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.40-4.80), shorter duration of RP at enrollment (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.94), and abnormal findings on thoracic outlet test (hazard ratio 2.69, 95% CI 1.12-6.48) were associated with an increased risk for transition to secondary RP. Compared with patients with suspected secondary RP, those diagnosed as having secondary RP had a higher number and earlier occurrence of pathologic findings. Furthermore, antinuclear antibodies at a titer of > or = 1:320 and positive findings in specific serologic subsets were associated with a significantly increased risk for developing a connective tissue disease. CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed initially as having primary RP may actually comprise 1 of 3 groups: those with idiopathic RP, those with a rather benign disease course, and those with a more severe course of the disease.

Low level laser therapy in primary Raynaud's phenomenon--results of a placebo controlled, double blind intervention study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of low level laser therapy in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and predict the success of laser therapy by clinical characteristics. METHODS: Forty-eight patients were included in a randomized placebo controlled, double blind crossover study. Laser and sham therapy each were applied 5 days a week for 3 weeks. Clinical symptoms, exposure to triggers, and frequency and intensity of attacks were recorded in diaries. Results of infrared thermography before onset and at the end of both irradiation sequences were evaluated. Primary endpoint was the average intensity of attacks; secondary endpoints were average number of attacks and thermography results. Age, sex, duration of symptoms, age at onset of symptoms, evoking conditions other than cold, maximum temperature drop after cold provocation, and rewarming time after cold provocation were tested as potential predictors. RESULTS: Number of attacks and their intensity were significantly reduced during laser therapy compared to sham treatment. Thermographic parameters did not reach statistical significance. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, evoking conditions other than cold (stress, wetness as additional triggers), rewarming time, and temperature decrease after cold provocation were significant predictors of therapeutic efficacy. CONCLUSION: Low level laser therapy reduces frequency and severity of Raynaud attacks. The effect is most pronounced in patients with signs of decreased threshold for vasospasm and less effective in patients with delayed hyperemia.

Degree of atherosclerosis predicts short-term commitment for smoking cessation therapy.

BACKGROUND: Only little is known about factors that influence the smokers' propensity to start smoking cessation therapy and stay within such programs. METHODS: One hundred fifteen subjects that were current smokers and presented at the angiologic outpatient unit were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. All patients were invited to take part in a smoking cessation program. Patients' history, noninvasive vascular, cardiac, and pulmonary parameters, state of atherosclerotic disease (SMART-score), smoking history, and Fagerström index were obtained and the carbon monoxide breathing test was performed. RESULTS: Lower age and heavy smoking were associated with less propensity to start smoking cessation therapy. The degree of atherosclerosis significantly predicted short-term commitment to smoking cessation therapy (relative risk for discontinuation: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70-0.96). Single factors predictive for staying within the therapy were peripheral arterial occlusive disease and hyperlipidemia, while neither prior myocardial infarction nor pulmonary function was associated with compliance. Fifty-four percent of patients that completed 3 months of therapy quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Counseling in smokers with preexistent or newly diagnosed atherosclerotic diseases or risk factors should include their specific vascular condition and information on positive consequences on the progress of these conditions. Counseling for initiation of smoking cessation therapy should apply different strategies as used in the maintenance phase of therapy.

Duplex sonographic predictors of restenosis, vascular and neurological events after carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although excellent short- and long-term results have been achieved with surgery in extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis, recurrent stenosis continues to play an important role in post-endarterectomy. Therefore, a close follow-up of patients is warranted. The value of postoperative duplex sonographic evaluations in postoperative follow-up is highly disputed. The study evaluates duplex sonographic parameters as predictors of carotid restenosis, general vascular events and ipsilateral neurological symptoms, in order to assess the role of duplex sonography in follow-up after carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study with a follow-up period ranging from 7 months to 7.5 years was performed in 150 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Pre- and postoperative duplex sonographic and clinical data were analyzed by life-table analysis and multivariate Cox regression with respect to carotid restenosis, vascular and ipsilateral neurological events. MAIN FINDINGS: Duplex sonographic predictors of carotid restenosis include the postoperative degree of stenosis (residual stenosis > or = 30% or more: relative risk (RR) = 1.56; 1.05-2.32), pre- to postoperative reduction of stenosis (higher than 50%: RR = 0.61; 0.45-0.83), and residual plaques in the operated carotid artery (RR = 1.96; 1.31-2.93). Some of these morphological parameters such as reduction of stenosis are also predictive of vascular events (RR = 1.25; 1.01-1.56) and ipsilateral neurological events (RR = 1.52; 1.05-2.19). In 12 cases restenosis was discovered by duplex sonography and in 3 cases by evaluation of clinical symptoms. In 5 cases restenosis was treated by repeat surgery. Contralaterally, progressive or newly developed carotid stenoses were observed in 17 cases, and only 5 were discovered on the basis of clinical symptoms. Fourteen contralateral stenoses required surgery. Overall, 12 patients underwent treatment for stroke prevention on the basis of duplex follow-up findings (8% of the study population). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative duplex sonography allows for the identification of patients at risk for carotid restenosis as well as those at risk for other vascular events. As expected, regular examinations permit early detection of restenosis requiring surgical treatment. However, a large number of contralateral stenoses requiring surgical treatment were detected by routine duplex sonographic examinations. The timing of follow-up intervals may be oriented towards the perioperative outcome of duplex sonography.

Duplex ultrasound-guided femoropopliteal angioplasty: initial and 12-month results from a case controlled study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate initial technical success, procedural complications, and 12-month patency of duplex-guided angioplasty compared to conventional fluoroscopically-guided procedures. METHODS: One hundred four patients (65 men; mean age 69 years) who underwent duplex-guided femoropopliteal angioplasty were compared to 104 patients undergoing fluoroscopically-guide procedures who were matched for age, sex, baseline ankle-brachial index (ABI), and length and grade of lesion. Patients were followed for 12 months, and restenosis was assessed by ABI and duplex sonography. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 88 (84.6%) patients from the duplex-guided group and in 102 (98.1%) control patients (p=0.001). Periprocedural complications occurred in 12.5% (n=13) and 18.3% (n=19), respectively (p=0.4). Contrast-induced transient renal impairment was observed in 7 (6.7%) patients in the fluoroscopic group. One hundred (96.1%) patients in the duplex and 102 (98.1%) patients in the fluoroscopic group completed the 12-month follow-up. Restenosis was found in 35 (39.8%) patients of the duplex group and in 38 (37.2%) patients of the fluoroscopic group (p=0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Technical success of duplex-guided procedures was significantly lower compared to fluoroscopic angioplasty; complications and 12-month patency were similar with both techniques. Duplex-guided angioplasty may be a feasible alternative, particularly for patients at high risk for contrast-induced complications.