Valoración no invasiva de la estenosis carotídea de causa aterosclerótica: correlación entre la ecografía Doppler color y la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio

Introducción: La angiografía carotídea se utiliza para confi rmar la presencia de estenosis de la bifurcación carotídea (BC). Sin embargo, dado que este método resulta invasivo y presenta cierta morbimortalidad, existe un creciente interés en los métodos no invasivos, como la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio (ARM-Gd) y la ecografía Doppler color (EDC). El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la correlación que existe entre la ecografía Doppler color y la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio en la determinación del grado de estenosis. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron por ecografía Doppler color y angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio 100 estudios de la bifurcación carotídea, realizados entre enero de 2009 y agosto de 2011 en el Sanatorio Allende. Se determinó el coefi ciente de concordancia Kappa, evaluando por ecografía Doppler color el porcentaje de estenosis carotídea según la reducción del diámetro y la velocidad sistólica máxima (VSM) y por angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio la reducción de la luz visualizada. En ambos métodos se empleó el criterio de NASCET. También se analizó la superfi cie de la placa. Resultados: Se obtuvo una muy buena correlación entre la ecografía Doppler color y la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio, con un coefi ciente de concordancia Kappa de 0,90 y un intervalo de confi anza (IC) de 95% (0,786-0,99). Sin embargo, existió una discordancia para valoar la superfi cie de la placa, que dejó en evidencia la superioridad de la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio para defi nir la superfi cie irregular y/o ulcerada. Conclusión: El avance de la tecnología y el creciente número de estudios que demuestran la fi abilidad y correlación diagnóstica de los métodos no invasivos hacen suponer que en un corto plazo estos reemplazarán a la angiografía en el diagnóstico y valoración de la patología carotídea.

Introduction: Carotid angiography is used to confi rm carotid bifurcation (CB) stenosis. However, it is an invasive method that involves some morbidity. For this reason there is growing interest in non-invasive methods for the evaluation of carotid stenosis, including magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium (MRAG) and color Doppler ultrasound (USDC). The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between the color Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium in the evaluation of the degree of stenosis. Materials and methods: One hundred carotid bifurcations were studied by color Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium between January 2009 and August 2011 in Sanatorio Allende. The level of agreement was determined using the Kappa coeffi cient, analyzing the percentage of carotid stenosis with color Doppler ultrasound according to the maximum systolic speed and the stenosis seen by magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium, using the NASCET criteria for both methods. Results: An excellent correlation was obtained between Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium, with a Kappa coeffi cient of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.786-0.99). There was disagreement between the two methods in assessing the plaque surface, showing that magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium was better for detecting an irregular surface and / or ulcerated plaque. Conclusion: The technological improvement and the increase in reliable studies that have a good diagnostic correlation with non-invasive methods, it could be assumed that, in a short period of time, Doppler ultrasound will gradually replace angiography in the diagnosis of carotid pathology.

Global experience in cervical carotid artery stent placement.

The purpose of this article is to review and update the current status of carotid artery stent placement in the world. Surveys to major interventional centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia were initially completed in June 1997. Subsequent information from these 24 centers in addition to 12 new centers has been obtained to update the information. The survey asked the various questions regarding the patients enrolled, procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including complications and restenosis. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures that have been performed worldwide to date included 5,210 procedures involving 4,757 patients. There was a technical success of 98.4% with 5,129 carotid arteries treated. Complications that occurred during the carotid stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were recorded. Overall, there were 134 transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) for a rate of 2.82%. Based on the total patient population, there were 129 minor strokes with a rate of occurrence of 2.72%. The total number of major strokes was 71 for a rate of 1.49%. There were 41 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period resulting in a mortality rate of 0.86%. The combined minor and major strokes and procedure-related death rate was 5.07%. Restenosis rates of carotid stenting have been 1.99% and 3.46% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The rate of neurologic events after stent placement has been 1.42% at 6-12-month follow-up. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative for vascular surgery, especially for patients that are high risk for standard carotid endarterectomy. The periprocedure risks for major and minor strokes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of development and have not changed significantly since the first survey results. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 50:160-167, 2000.

Multicenter evaluation of the phosphorylcholine-coated biodivYsio stent in short de novo coronary lesions: The SOPHOS study.

AIMS: The BiodivYsio trade mark stent (Biocompatibles Ltd, Farnham, UK) is coated with a phosphorylcholine (PC)-containing copolymer to confer biocompatibility. The SOPHOS (Study Of PHosphorylcholine coating On Stents) study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of this novel coronary stent and by indirect comparison to indicate equivalence with other formal stent studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with angina and a single short (#x2A7F;12 mm) de novo lesion in a native coronary artery of >/=2.75 mm diameter were included. A total of 425 patients were allocated in 24 centers. Clinical data were collected at one-, six- and nine-month follow-up. Angiography was performed before and after the stent implantation. In addition, in the first 200 patients (SOPHOS A) angiography was routinely performed at six months. The following 225 patients (SOPHOS B) were merely followed up clinically. The primary end-point of the study, the six-month MACE-rate (MACE = Major Adverse Cardiac Events) was 13.4% (two cardiac death; five Q-wave/nine non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions (MI); nine CABG and 32 target lesion revascularization (TLR), which is similar to the calculated 15% MACE-rate in comparable reference studies. Secondary end-points included among others restenosis at six months in the SOPHOS A population. The target vessel diameter was 2.98 +/- 0.48 mm. Minimal lumen diameter pre/post procedure and at follow-up was 1.00 +/- 0.32, 2.69 +/- 0.37, 1.91 +/- 0.71 mm, respectively. The binary restenosis rate (>/=50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) was 17.7%. CONCLUSION: The coronary BiodivYsio stent is safe and effective as a primary device for the treatment of native coronary artery lesions in patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris. Clinical and angiographic results are in the statistical range of equivalence with comparable studies with other current stents.

Current global status of carotid artery stent placement.

Our purpose was to review the current status of carotid artery stent placement throughout the world. Surveys were sent to major interventional centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Information from peer-reviewed journals was also included and supplemented the survey. The survey asked various questions regarding the patients enrolled, procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including complications and restenosis. Of the centers which were sent surveys, 24 responded. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures that have been performed worldwide to date included 2,048 cases, with a technical success of 98.6%. Complications that occurred during carotid stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were recorded. Overall, there were 63 minor strokes, with a rate of occurrence of 3.08%. The total number of major strokes was 27, for a rate of 1.32%. There were 28 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period, resulting in a mortality rate of 1.37%. Restenosis rates of carotid stenting have been 4.80% at 6 mo. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative to vascular surgery, especially for patients that are at high risk for standard carotid endarterectomy. The periprocedural risks for major and minor strokes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of development.

Densitometric quantitative analysis of intracoronary ultrasound images: anatomopathological correlation.

To establish if the videodensitometric analysis (VDA) of the intracoronary ultrasound images (IVUS) can predict the qualitative and quantitative composition of the atherosclerotic coronary plaques, thirty-one patients who had undergone anatomopathological study of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) samples and pre- and post-intervention IVUS image were analyzed. The video IVUS images were digitized in a 512 x 512 matrix and analyzed for densitometric differences with an Automatic Image Analysis System (AIAS) (Vidas 2000, Zeiss Kontron). The components of the plaque were arbitrarily divided into three densitometric categories using a 256 gray scale: high density (HD) 121-255, medium (MD) 81-120 and low (LD) 30-80. The relative percentage of each component was automatically recorded. The DCA samples were microscopically examined and put into the AIAS. The components were divided into: collagenous tissue (CT); lipid-necrotic debris (LND); proliferative tissue (PT). The area of each component was expressed as a percentage of the total. Linear correlation analysis was applied. Comparison between the IVUS and the histological composition of the plaque showed that: HD corresponded to CT; MD to PT; LD to LND. The correlation between the percentage distribution of the densitometric categories and the anatomopathological components showed a correlation coefficient r = 0.91 between HD and CT; r = 0.87 between MD and PT; r = 0.88 between LD and LND. The VDA of the IVUS can distinguish three basic components of the atherosclerotic plaque: fibrous, lipid-necrotic and proliferative tissue, allowing absolute and relative quantitative analysis. This capability may be of interest for device selection and histopathological correlation.

Estabilización de la angina inestable con el uso combinado de aspirina más heparina de bajo peso molecular vs. aspirina más heparina sódica por vía endovenosa / Stabilization of unstable angina pectoris with combinated use of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) low molecular weight heparin (LMWA) vs (ASA)-IV heparin

La angina inestable se produce como consecuencia de la ruptura de una placa y la formación de un trombo intracoronario. La trombosis puede estar dada por un estado trombogénico o de hipercoagulabilidad ocasionada por la activación plaquetaria y la generación de trombina. Los objetivos del tratamiento de la angina inestable son bloquear la progresión del trombo y evitar el IAM. Se ha demostrado la utilidad de la ASPIRINA, HEPARINA y la combinación de ambos tratamientos antitrombóticos. Por las dificultades que presenta la heparina en su administración, se pensó en la posibilidad que la HPBM la reemplace, en base a los resultados obtenidos en la prevención y tratamiento de la trombosis venosa. Las mismas se caracterizan por tener un factor anti Xa y no requerir de monitoreo para su implementación. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue comparar los resultados, eventos adversos y costos de ambos tratamientos (HS vs HBPM) y demostrar que las HBPM tienen similar efectividad en el tratamiento de la angina inestable. Material y Método: Desde el 1 de diciembre de 1993 al 31 de agosto de 1995 se realizó un estudio prospectivo, randomizado y a simple ciego, incluyéndose Ptes con angina inestable con lesiones coronarias > 70 por ciento por angiografía. Se dividieron en dos grupos. El A con aspirina más heparina por v/ev 24 (P) y el B con aspirina más HPBM 30 (P). Resultados: En lo que se refiere a la comparación de ambos grupos había una diferencia importante en lo que hace L3V y tronco y mayor riesgo clínico en los Ptes del Grupo B. Eventos isquémicos: angina refractaria y recurrente: 1 Pte en cada grupo. (4,17 vs 3,3 por ciento) respectivamente. IAM no fatal: 1 Pte en el grupo A (4,17 por ciento). Total de eventos: grupo A: 3 (12,5 por ciento) vs grupo B (6,6 por ciento) diferencia no significativa (Chi cuadrado X2 P=054) y Test exacto de Fisher P=0,64. En cuanto a costos, la diferencia fue la siguiente: heparina sódica endovenosa: $204,70 vs HBPM (ENOXAPARINE 40 mg/d) $86, teniéndose en cuenta 5 días de tratamiento. Incidencia global de IAM 1 (1,85 por ciento) y de angina recurrente 2 (3,7 por ciento) y angina refractaria 2 (3,7 por ciento)... (AU)

Estabilización de la angina inestable con el uso combinado de aspirina más heparina de bajo peso molecular vs. aspirina más heparina sódica por vía endovenosa / Stabilization of unstable angina pectoris with combinated use of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) low molecular weight heparin (LMWA) vs (ASA)-IV heparin

La angina inestable se produce como consecuencia de la ruptura de una placa y la formación de un trombo intracoronario. La trombosis puede estar dada por un estado trombogénico o de hipercoagulabilidad ocasionada por la activación plaquetaria y la generación de trombina. Los objetivos del tratamiento de la angina inestable son bloquear la progresión del trombo y evitar el IAM. Se ha demostrado la utilidad de la ASPIRINA, HEPARINA y la combinación de ambos tratamientos antitrombóticos. Por las dificultades que presenta la heparina en su administración, se pensó en la posibilidad que la HPBM la reemplace, en base a los resultados obtenidos en la prevención y tratamiento de la trombosis venosa. Las mismas se caracterizan por tener un factor anti Xa y no requerir de monitoreo para su implementación. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue comparar los resultados, eventos adversos y costos de ambos tratamientos (HS vs HBPM) y demostrar que las HBPM tienen similar efectividad en el tratamiento de la angina inestable. Material y Método: Desde el 1 de diciembre de 1993 al 31 de agosto de 1995 se realizó un estudio prospectivo, randomizado y a simple ciego, incluyéndose Ptes con angina inestable con lesiones coronarias > 70 por ciento por angiografía. Se dividieron en dos grupos. El A con aspirina más heparina por v/ev 24 (P) y el B con aspirina más HPBM 30 (P). Resultados: En lo que se refiere a la comparación de ambos grupos había una diferencia importante en lo que hace L3V y tronco y mayor riesgo clínico en los Ptes del Grupo B. Eventos isquémicos: angina refractaria y recurrente: 1 Pte en cada grupo. (4,17 vs 3,3 por ciento) respectivamente. IAM no fatal: 1 Pte en el grupo A (4,17 por ciento). Total de eventos: grupo A: 3 (12,5 por ciento) vs grupo B (6,6 por ciento) diferencia no significativa (Chi cuadrado X2 P=054) y Test exacto de Fisher P=0,64. En cuanto a costos, la diferencia fue la siguiente: heparina sódica endovenosa: $204,70 vs HBPM (ENOXAPARINE 40 mg/d) $86, teniéndose en cuenta 5 días de tratamiento. Incidencia global de IAM 1 (1,85 por ciento) y de angina recurrente 2 (3,7 por ciento) y angina refractaria 2 (3,7 por ciento)...

Transbrachial selective arteriography of the neck vessels: our experience in 258 cases.

We have developed a catheter that facilitates the study of the neck vessels via a brachial arteriotomy so that other vascular areas (heart, kidneys, etc) can be studied in the same procedure. The catheter has a preformed curvature with a tapered, closed-end distal tip. We have successfully utilized this catheter in 258 consecutive patients, 133 (52%) of whom had undergone concurrent studies of other vascular areas, usually cardiac catheterization with coronary arteriography. No major complications occurred with the use of this catheter. We have found that with this catheter we can study the neck vessels via the brachial approach safely and easily and perform studies of other vascular areas using the same arteriotomy.