[Hypothenar hammer syndrome as a rare cause of Raynaud syndrome]

Ulnar artery aneurysm in a patient with Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease is a systemic disease characterized by oral aphthosis, genital ulcers, ocular lesions, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, neurological and major vessel involvement. Arterial involvement, aneurysms and arterial thrombosis have been reported in 1.5-3% of patients. In this case report, we present a patient with ulnar arterial aneurysm associated with Behçet's disease.

Long-term follow-up of hypothenar hammer syndrome: a series of 47 patients

Hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS) is an uncommon form of secondary Raynaud phenomenon, occurring mainly in subjects who use the hypothenar part of the hand as a hammer; the hook of the hamate strikes the superficial palmar branch of the ulnar artery in the Guyon space, leading to occlusion and/or aneurysm of the ulnar artery. In patients with HHS, such injuries of the palmar ulnar artery may lead to severe vascular insufficiency in the hand with occlusion of digital artery. To date, only a few series have analyzed the long-term outcome of patients with HHS. This prompted us to conduct the current retrospective study to 1) evaluate the prevalence of HHS in patients with Raynaud phenomenon and 2) assess the short-term and long-term outcome in patients with HHS. From 1990 to 2006, 4148 consecutive patients were referred to the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Rouen medical center for evaluation of Raynaud phenomenon using nailfold capillaroscopy. HHS was diagnosed in 47 of these 4148 patients (1.13% of cases).Forty-three patients (91.5%) had occupational exposure to repetitive palmar trauma. The more common occupations were factory worker (21.3%), mason (12.8%), carpenter (10.6%), and metal worker (10.6%); the mean duration of occupational exposure to repetitive palmar trauma at HHS diagnosis was 21 years. One patient (2.1%) had recreational exposure (aikido training) to repetitive trauma of the palmar ulnar artery, and 3 other patients (6.4%) developed HHS related to a single direct injury to the hypothenar area. Clinical manifestations were more often unilateral (87.2%) involving the dominant hand (93%). HHS complications included digital ischemic symptoms (ischemia: n = 21, necrosis: n = 20) and irritation of the sensory branch of the ulnar nerve (n = 11). In HHS patients, angiography demonstrated occlusion of the ulnar artery in the area of the Guyon space (59.6%), aneurysm of the ulnar artery in the area of the Guyon space (40.4%), and embolic multiple occlusions of the digital arteries (57.4%). All patients were advised to change their occupational exposure. They were given vasodilators, including calcium channel blocker (n = 37) and buflomedil (n = 12); 36 patients (76.6%) also received oral platelet aggregation inhibitors. Twenty-one patients with digital ischemia/necrosis were further given hemodilution therapy to reduce the hematocrit level to 35%. In 3 patients with HHS-related digital necrosis who exhibited partial improvement with vasodilators, prostacyclin analog therapy (a 5-day regimen of intravenous prostacyclin analog) was instituted, resulting in complete healing of digital ulcer in these 3 patients. Other conservative treatment options included controlling risk factors (smoking cessation, low-lipid diet, therapy for arterial hypertension) and careful local wound care of fingers in the 20 patients with digital necrosis. Only 2 patients, exhibiting digital necrosis and multiple digital artery occlusions, with nonthrombotic ulnar artery aneurysm underwent reconstructive surgery, that is, resection of the aneurysm with end-to-end anastomosis of the ulnar artery. The median length of follow-up in patients with HHS was 15.9 months. Thirteen patients (27.7%) exhibited clinical recurrences of HHS; the median time of HHS recurrence onset was 11 months. Outcome of HHS relapse was favorable with conservative measures in all cases. Awareness of HHS is required to increase suspicion of the disorder so that further exposure to risk factors like repetitive hypothenar trauma can be avoided for these patients; this is of great importance for their overall prognosis. We found favorable outcomes in most patients after conservative measures were initiated; therefore we suggest that surgery may be undertaken in the subgroup of patients who exhibit partial improvement while receiving conservative therapy. Finally, because we observed recurrence of HHS in 27.7% of patients, we note that HHS patients require close follow-up, including both regular and systematic physical vascular examination.

["Progressive" hypothenar hammer syndrome Indication for operative treatment]

Hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS) is ischemia of the distal ulnar artery caused by injury to the ulnar part of the palmar arch. This disease often involves workers who frequently use the hypothenar part of the hand as a hammer. The aneurysmatic form of HHS represents an indication for operative treatment; the thrombotic form is treated mainly conservatively. In our opinion, the symptomatic thrombotic form represents an indication for operation if symptoms persist during conservative therapy, particularly if symptoms progress. In fresh embolic occlusions, regional thrombolysis is usually successful. We present here the symptomatic treatment and course in two patients with complaints increasing during conservative therapy. The patients reported progressive Raynaud's phenomenon of the fingers. Angiography confirmed corkscrew-like aneurysmatic configuration of the distal ulnar artery and subsequent embolization of digital arteries. In both cases, we removed the source of the embolism with resection of the involved arterial segment and anastomosis with autologous vein grafts.

Distribution of macrovascular disease in scleroderma

OBJECTIVE

Macrovascular disease in scleroderma has recently been described in two comparative studies. The aim of this study was to map its anatomical distribution.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study of 20 scleroderma patients, the results of Doppler studies of arteries in the limbs, neck, and abdomen were compared with those from 20 cohort negative patients. The latter were matched for age, sex, and the presence/absence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, and diabetes status. Arteries were compared quantitatively using a body surface area adjusted measurement of intraluminal diameter, and qualitatively using descriptive characteristics of the arterial walls. The latter were binomially categorised under three non-exclusive headings--thickening, stenosis, and calcification.

RESULTS

The ulnar arteries in scleroderma patients were significantly narrower than those of the negative cohort. The arterial walls were also characterised by smooth thickening along their entire length. The characteristics of the other arteries, including those of the lower limbs, were not significantly different from those of the negative cohort.

CONCLUSION

The ulnar artery seems to be specifically targeted in patients with scleroderma. Assessment of the ulnar artery should be considered in these patients by means of a modified Allen's test or Doppler sonography especially in the presence of digital gangrene.