[Tele-thermography in the diagnosis of deep leg and pelvic venous thrombosis]. / Tele-Thermographie zur Diagnostik tiefer Bein- und Beckenvenenthrombosen.

The results of thermography were compared with those of phlebography in 235 patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis in the legs. Any thermal difference between the two sides was regarded as abnormal. On this basis, thermography had a sensitivity of 97%. Thermography is therefore a reliable, simple, non-invasive and repeatable examination for the exclusion of leg vein thrombosis.

Does captopril reduce renal function in renovascular disease by postglomerular vasodilatation?

In hypertensive patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis (RAS) or RAS of a solitary kidney, reversible decrease of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or acute renal failure has been observed following captopril administration. Decrease of GFR has been ascribed to preferential efferent vasodilatation. To test this hypothesis, acute changes of mean arterial pressure (MAP), renal plasma flow (RPF), GFR, plasma renin activity (PRA) and PGE2-excretion after 50 mg captopril orally were measured in post-transplant hypertensives with and without transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) during treatment with diuretics. The fall in MAP was similar in both groups; RPF did not change significantly; GFR decreased from 58 +/- 14 (s.d.) to 49 +/- 14 ml/min (TRAS, n = 8) and from 60 +/- 15 to 50 +/- 16 ml/min (without TRAS, n = 8). There was no evidence of postglomerular dilatation in patients with TRAS, and filtration fraction decreased only in patients without TRAS. Increase of PRA after captopril was not significantly different between the two groups. PGE2-excretion did not change significantly. In one patient with severe TRAS, long term angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and acute normalization of MAP with sodium nitroprusside both induced a comparable decrease of GFR. The results demonstrate that acute postglomerular vasodilatation does not necessarily occur after ACE inhibition in patients with TRAS and a high-renin state.

Günther vena caval filter: results of long-term follow-up.

A Günther vena caval filter was implanted in the inferior vena cava in 59 patients to prevent pulmonary embolism. This newly available device, which can be inserted percutaneously via a 10-French introduction system, has three filtering planes. No complications occurred at the puncture site. Follow-up included clinical examinations (54 patients), plain radiographs (50 patients), and CT scans (41 patients); these examinations were performed up to 21 months after implantation. Caudal migration of the filter occurred in 35 (70%) of the 50 patients who had radiographs, but no cranial or oblique movement occurred. Occlusion of the filter was noted in three (7%) of 41 patients who had CT examinations. Thromboemboli were seen inside the filter in 16 (39%) of the 41 patients who had CT scans. Recurrent pulmonary embolism was not observed after filter implantation. The Günther vena caval filter seems to be a satisfactory device for preventing pulmonary embolism.