International Cardiovascular Research Journal
Volume:6 Issue: 4, des 2012

Serum beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) levels have been found to be increased in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), yet it is still unknown whether B2M correlates with PAD intensity.. We aim to evaluate the correlation between B2M and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) values in high-vascular-risk patients. This is a cross-sectional study of 63 high-vascular-risk patients admitted to the Cardiology Department or evaluated as outpatients in the Internal Medicine Department of our institution. Patients were classified into two groups according to their ABI: patients without PAD (n = 44, ABI values between 0.9 and 1.4) and patients with PAD (n = 19, ABI values lower than 0.9 or higher than 1.4). We performed univariate and multivariate analysis based on a multiple linear regression model. Serum B2M levels were higher in patients with pathological ABI values than in those without PAD (2.36 ± 1.13 vs. 1.80 ± 0.65 mg/L; P<0.05). We found no correlation between B2M and ABI in our total population (r = –0.12) or in patients with PAD (r = –0.09; NS for both comparisons). Age, gender, arterial hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), uric acid, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol correlated with B2M in the univariate analysis. In the final linear regression model, eGFR, uric acid and total cholesterol correlated independently with B2M (P<0.01). We found no correlation between B2M levels and ABI values in high-vascular-risk patients that could usefully help in the subsequent diagnosis of PAD. However, we observed a significant correlation between B2M and eGFR, even when renal function was only slightly impaired..

Diabetes mellitus is a life threatening disease accompanied by several micro- and macro vascular complications. Several modalities are available for interventional revascularization of coronary artery lesions, but their efficacy in diabetic patients is studied only in few patients. This study evaluated major in- hospital complications and clinical outcome after one year in 200 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous Coronary Intervention from 2007 to 2009. Our findings showed comparable single and 2 vessel stenting, regarding major adverse cardiovascular event in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. In connection with long term and in hospital outcome, no statistically significant difference was found between one and two vessel stenting when drug eluting stent was used in diabetic patients. The use of drug eluting stent in single or two vessel disease of diabetic patients is technically satisfactory and clinically safe and can substitute for coronary artery bypass grafting..

Considering the importance of annular dynamics in the valvular and ventricular function, we sought to evaluate the effects of treated pericardial annuloplasty rings on mitral annular dynamics and left-ventricular (LV) function after mitral valve repair. The results were compared with the mitral annular dynamics and LV function in patients with rigid and flexible rings and also in those without any heart problems. One hundred and thirty-six consecutive patients with a myxomatous mitral valve and severe regurgitation were prospectively enrolled in this observational cohort study. The patients underwent comparable surgical mitral valve reconstruction; of these 100 received autologous pericardium rings (Group I), 20 were given flexible prosthetic rings (Group II), and 16 received rigid rings (Group III). Other repair modalities were also performed, depending on the involved segments. The patients were compared with 100 normal subjects in whom an evaluation of the coronary artery was not indicative of valvular or myocardial abnormalities (Group IV). At follow-up, LV systolic indices were assessed via two-dimensional echocardiography at rest and during dobutamine stress echocardiography. Mitral annular motion was examined through mitral annulus systolic excursion (MASE). Peak transmitral flow velocities (TMFV) and mitral valve area (MVA) were also evaluated by means of continuous-wave Doppler. A postoperative echocardiographic study showed significant mitral regurgitation (>=2+) in one patient in Group I, one patient in Group II, and none in Group III. None of the patients died. There was a noteworthy increase in TMFV with stress in all the groups, the increase being more considerable in the prosthetic ring groups (Group I from 1.10 ± 0.08 to 1.36 ± 0.13 m/s, Group II from 1.30 ± 0.11 to 1.59 ± 0.19 m/s, Group III from 1.33 ± 0.09 to 1.69 ± 0.21 m/s, and Group IV from 1.08 ± 0.08 to 1.21 ± 0.12 m/s). Recruitment of LVEF reserve during stress was observed in the pericardial ring and normal groups (Group I from 54.6±6.2 to 64.6±7.3%, P<0.005; and Group IV from 55.3 ± 5.7 to 66 ± 6.2%, P<0.05), but no significant changes were detected in the prosthetic ring groups (Group II from 50.4 ± 5 to 55.0 ± 5.1, and Group III from 51.1 ± 6.6 to 53.8 ± 4.7). There was a significant MASE increase in both of the studied longitudinal segments at rest and during stress in Groups I and IV compared with the prosthetic ring groups. There was no calcification of the pericardial rings.. The use of treated autologous pericardium rings for mitral valve annuloplasty yields excellent mitral annular dynamics, preserves LV function during stress conditions, and leaves no echocardiographic signs of degeneration.

Obejectives: To study the role of hypotension and associated injuries in increasing the chances of secondary amputation in lower limb with vascular injuries. This study was conducted in the Department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery(CVTS), Sher-i- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, (SKIMS) Srinagar Kashmir India and comprised all patients sustaining vascular injury due to different causes like road traffic accident, fire arm and blast injuries or falling from height during the last five years. Following admission to our Department, the patients were divided into two groups. The first group with associated injuries was hemodynamically unstable during vascular repair or in post-operative period and the second group had no associated injuries and was hemodynamically stable during vascular repair and in post-operative period. During the past five years, 95 patients were operated for lower limb vascular injury in our department. Of these 25 patients had associated multi-organ injuries and were hemodynamically unstable and needed intensive care monitoring after surgical intervention. Additionally, 10 patients died due to associated multiple organ injuries, 10 needed amputation due to recurrent thrombosis of their anastomosis, and in five patients limb salvage was achieved. Seventy patients who had isolated limb vascular injuries with no associated injuries or hypotension were hemodynamically stable and were kept in low dependency unit after vascular repair. Only Four patients from this group needed amputation for thrombosis of the anastomosis.Conculsion: Patients with shock and related injuries face significant rate of amputation. These patients whether with multi-organ injuries or isolated vascular injuries need judicious treatment for hypovolumic shock during surgical intervention and in post-operative period.

Peripheral arterial disease is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. As such, it is found that screening for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) improves risk assessment. Thus, intensive risk factor modification and medical treatment in these patients are necessary. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease in patients with concomitant coronary arterial disease. Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease was investigated in 400 patients (60% males, 40% females, aged 59.7± 11.3) with a documented coronary arterial disease. Among patients with documented CAD, 12% had asymptomatic PAD with the ABI ratio of less than 0.9. It is advisable to screen for PAD not only as a disease but also as a risk assessment method for atherosclerosis.

A 22 years old lady was admitted because of progressive dyspnea, severe abdominal protrusion and lower extremity edema. She had undergone ovarian hyperstimulation for primary infertility by Clomiphen and Human chorionic gonadotropin for 3 months. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography revealed bilateral enlarged multi cystic ovaries and massive ascites. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large thrombus in right ventrice apex. Spiral chest CT scan showed normal pulmonary vasculature with no evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism. Heparin was started and repeat echocardiographic study showed gradual disappearance of right ventricular thrombus. Human chorionic gonadotropin is the most important substance which leads to capillary leakage and fluid accumulation in third space. Fluid shift and hypovolemia may cause hypotension, hemoconcentration and formation of vascular thrombus..

We report a case with a left atrial mass who underwent coronary angiography to rule out coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography revealed an anomalous tortuous vascular structure originating from the left circumflex coronary artery to the left atrial tumor suggestive of neovascularization. Preoperative coronary angiography is useful for coronary artery evaluation and also provides additional information regarding the feeding vessel supplying the mass.