Coronary arterial stenosis, angina pectoris and atypical coarctation of the aorta due to nonspecific arteritis. Treatment with aortocoronary bypass graft

Bilateral discoid medial menisci: a rare phenomenon

Discoid medial meniscus is a relatively rare pathology of the knee joint, with bilateral cases even rarer. Herein, we report the case of a 25-year-old man diagnosed with discoid medial meniscus in the right knee with a horizontal tear. Increased cupping of the medial condyle of the tibia, widening of the medial joint space and the presence of discoid meniscus in the right knee prompted investigation of the asymptomatic left knee with magnetic resonance imaging. The contralateral asymptomatic knee also showed evidence of discoid medial meniscus. The symptomatic knee was successfully treated by arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, with excellent functional outcome.

Anaortic Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Takayasu's Arteritis

Background

Coronary involvement in Takayasu's arteritis is a rare but fatal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and mid-term results of Takayasu's arteritis patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Materials and Methods

Of 2,280 patients who underwent isolated CABG from January 1998 to June 2012, Takayasu's arteritis was identified in 5 patients. There were 3 female patients, and the mean age was 58±9 years. Takayasu's arteritis was diagnosed during preoperative evaluation for coronary artery disease in 4 patients, and the initial manifestation was angina pectoris in 4 patients. All of the patients underwent anaortic off-pump CABG (OPCAB) using the in situ left or right internal thoracic arteries (ITA); 3 patients had severe stenosis of the proximal left subclavian artery and the in situ right ITA was used instead. Medical treatment for inflammatory arteritis during the perioperative and follow-up period was performed if indicated. Early, 1-year, and 5-year angiographic results and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

There was no surgical mortality, and all of the patients were discharged without complications on postoperative 8±2 days. Early postoperative (postoperative 2±1 days) angiography demonstrated a graft patency of 100% (12 of 12 distal anastomoses). One-year (13±3 months) angiography was performed in 4 patients, and all of the grafts were patent (100%, 9 of 9 distal anastomoses).

Conclusion

By performing anaortic OPCAB in patients with Takayasu's arteritis, we were able to avoid complications associated with manipulating an atherosclerotic and severely calcified ascending aorta. The early and mid-term graft patency of OPCAB in Takayasu's arteritis was maintained when concomitant with medical treatment.

Coronary Artery Involvement in Takayasu Arteritis in 45 Chinese Patients

Objective.

We investigated the clinical characteristics, potential difficulties in diagnosis, and therapy for coronary artery involvement in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods.

Of 587 consecutive patients hospitalized with TA from 1998 to 2011, those found to have > 50% reduction of diameter of coronary artery by angiography were recruited. We defined the first finding of coronary involvement as baseline. The clinical features, laboratory data, coronary angiographic findings, treatment, and followup outcomes were summarized retrospectively.

Results.

A total of 45 (7.7%, 45/587) patients with coronary involvement were identified, including 40 with typical angina, and 15 with myocardial infarction. Some had complications such as peripheral vascular murmur, pulseless disease, and hypertension. The average age at onset of cardiac symptoms was 40.3 ± 12.8 years (range 15–64) and 36 were female. At admission, erythrocyte sedimentation rates were elevated in 27 patients (60%) and C-reactive protein levels in 23 (51.1%). The ostia (37.4%) and proximal segments (33.3%) of coronary artery were most frequently involved. The treatment was stent implantation in 10 patients and coronary artery bypass grafting in 13. One female patient suffered sudden death during the angiography. During a mean followup of 5.8 ± 4.5 years, 8 patients died.

Conclusion.

Coronary artery involvement in TA that leads to cardiovascular events, especially to cardiovascular death, is not rare. Early diagnosis and therapy should be emphasized.

Surgical treatment of multivessel lesions in Takayasu's arteritis: report of a case

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic vasculitis involving the aorta and its main branches, the pulmonary arteries, and the coronary tree. Here we report a case of TA complicated by severe stenosis of the left coronary ostium with multivessel brachiocephalic involvement. A combination of these abnormalities could complicate underlying illness in patients, posing an increased risk of surgical morbidity. Simultaneous surgical treatment of the ascending aorta to left carotid artery bypass and coronary artery bypass using the great saphenous vein were performed. We discuss the choice of simultaneous surgery and the options for surgical treatment of complicated lesions due to TA.

Angiographic findings and surgical treatments of coronary artery involvement in Takayasu arteritis

BACKGROUND

Takayasu arteritis is associated with a low incidence of coronary artery involvement, such as stenosis, obstruction, aneurysm, and coronary steal syndrome, but coronary ischemia can be fatal.

METHODS

Between 1972 and April 2001, 81 of 130 patients given a diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis underwent selective coronary angiography, and among them, 31 patients (4 male and 27 female patients; mean age, 41.1 +/- 13.2 years) had abnormal coronary angiographic findings and were recruited for this study.

RESULTS

Abnormal coronary findings consisted of 24 coronary artery stenoses of greater than 75%, 3 coronary artery-bronchial artery anastomoses, 3 aneurysmal coronary ectasias, and 1 combined coronary ectasia and anastomosis. Among 24 patients with coronary stenosis, the ostium was most frequently involved (87.5%). Twenty-three of 24 patients with coronary artery stenoses were treated surgically. The mean follow-up duration was 9.65 +/- 6.9 years, with a 100% follow-up rate. Four fistulas and 4 aneurysms in 7 patients were not treated surgically. Coronary steal phenomenon was always associated with occluded pulmonary arteries and pulmonary hypertension. Aneurysmal coronary ectasia was related to severe aortic hypertension with or without aortic regurgitation and atypical coarctation. There were 2 (8.7%) in-hospital deaths and 3 (13%) late deaths. The actuarial survival rate, including in-hospital deaths, was 86.5% +/- 7.3% at 5 years and 81.4% +/- 8.4% at 10 years.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of coronary abnormalities is relatively low in patients with Takayasu arteritis; however, surgical treatment is recommended for patients with coronary ostial stenoses because coronary ischemia can be one of the major causes of death.

Surgical considerations of occlusive lesions associated with Takayasu's arteritis

OBJECTIVE

Takayasu's arteritis is an inflammatory vascular disease of unknown etiology that affects the aorta and its main branches, requiring surgical intervention due to occlusive lesions. We studied early and late surgical results.

METHODS

Between 1979 and December 1998, 46 patients--1 man and 45 women aged 15 to 72 years (mean: 46 +/- 13 years)--with occlusive lesions caused by Takayasu's arteritis underwent surgery. Preoperative steroids were administered to 22 patients having inflammation. Diagnosis indicating surgery included obstructive cervical vessel disease in 13 patients, obstructive coronary artery disease in 19, aortic coarctation in 15, and abdominal branch stenosis in 3. Surgical procedures involved bypass grafting in 31 (cervical vessel bypass in 13, ascending-abdominal aortic bypass in 4, axillary artery-abdominal aortic bypass in 10, descending-abdominal aortic bypass in 1, abdominal branch bypass in 3), coronary artery bypass grafting in 10, and coronary ostial endarterectomy in 9.

RESULTS

Four (8.7%) died during hospitalization. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 240 months (mean: 117 months). Eight suffered late deaths and 6 patients died of cardiovascular problems. The total actuarial survival rate was 76.2% at 5 years and 70.5% at 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Steroid therapy before and after surgery appears to affect the overall prognosis positively in patients with Takayasu's arteritis.

Nonatherosclerotic causes of coronary artery narrowing--Part III

Approximately 5% of patients with acute myocardial infarction do not have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease but have other causes for their luminal narrowing. The third part of this three-part review of nonatherosclerotic causes of coronary narrowing focuses on coronary vasculitis, infectious diseases, Kawasaki's disease, metabolic disorders, metastatic disease, and substance abuse (cocaine).

Takayasu arteritis in Thailand: clinical and imaging features

PURPOSE

To present and evaluate the clinical and imaging features of patients with Takyasu arteritis in Thailand.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical and angiographic findings were studied in 63 patients with Takayasu arteritis collected at Chulalongkorn Hospital Medical School, Bangkok. Imaging features including CT scan in 15 patients, magnetic resonance imaging in 14 patients and magnetic resonance angiography in ten patients were evaluated and compared to angiography.

RESULTS

Among 63 patients there were 43 females and 20 males with the ratio female to male 2.15:1. The most common age groups were in the third and fourth decades of life. The most common clinical findings were hypertension and absence or weakness of pulses. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate was found in 50%. For angiography, the most common vessel affected was the abdominal aorta (20%). The second and third most common sites were renal arteries (18.7%) and the subclavian arteries (14.3%). Coronary artery involvement was found in two out of eight patients. No pulmonary involvement was found in eight cases studied by pulmonary angiography. For classification of angiogram, the most common type of involvement (66.7%) was extensive involvement of the aorta and branches (type V of new classification established from International Conferences on Takayasu arteritis in Tokyo 1994). No patient was found to have only involvement of brachiocephalic branches or ascending aorta and brachiocephalic branches. CT scan showed calcification in the vessel walls (8/15 cases) which helped in diagnosis of the disease. Wall thickness, surrounding tissue, appearance of the vessel and intraluminal thrombus could be well seen. Magnetic resonance imaging added more detail in multiple planes and could demonstrate vascular flow. High detection rate of the lesions (94.8%) was found for the aorta. The study was less sensitive for smaller vessels. Magnetic resonance angiography showed better correlation of the findings of brachiocephalic arteries compared to angiography. Subclavian steal syndrome could be diagnosed. For renal arteries, MR angiography could correctly demonstrate occlusion of renal artery in six out of eight cases. In the other two cases only stenoses of the vessels were found on angiograms. One renal arterial stenosis on MR angiography was confirmed by angiography.

CONCLUSION

Takayasu arteritis could be found in Thailand. Clinical features were almost the same as in reports from other countries. Various forms of arterial involvement were demonstrated by imaging modalities. Angiography remained the best method for detection and diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis in correlation with clinical and laboratory findings. Although CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography were limited and less sensitive for detection of the lesions, they were useful as noninvasive modalities showing more details of intraluminal clot, vascular wall and surrounding tissue which could be correlated with pathological findings and pathogenesis of the disease. Our study suggests that MR imaging and MR angiography can be screening and diagnostic techniques for patients with suspected Takayasu arteritis.

Nonatherosclerotic causes of coronary artery narrowing--Part I

Approximately 5% of patients with acute myocardial infarction do not have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease but have other causes for their luminal narrowing. The first part of this three-part review of nonatherosclerotic causes of coronary narrowing focuses on congenital coronary artery anomalies, coronary fistula, and high take-off position of coronary ostia.

Isolated left coronary ostial stenosis as the sole arterial involvement in Takayasu's disease

A 24-year-old woman with Takayasu's disease developed unstable angina pectoris. Angiographic studies demonstrated an isolated left coronary ostial stenosis without any other systemic arterial involvement. She is unique in that the coronary lesion, which is rarely the major manifestation of Takayasu's disease, is the sole arterial involvement of the disease.

Anatomy, histology, and pathology of coronary arteries: a review relevant to new interventional and imaging techniques--Part I

In the last 15 years, intense interest has focused on various interventional pharmacologic and mechanical forms of therapy for the treatment of atherosclerosis coronary artery disease. Many techniques and devices (dilating balloons, perfusion catheters, thermal probes and balloons, lasers, atherectomy devices, stents, intravascular ultrasound) have been used or are under study for future use. Many of these techniques and devices require an understanding of histologic and pathologic features of the coronary arteries and diseases which affect them. This article reviews selective areas of anatomy, histology, and pathology relevant to the use of various new interventional techniques. Part I of this review will focus on anatomic aspects of the epicardial coronary artery system, coronary arterial distribution, myocardial supply, and histologic features of the normal coronary artery.

Transaortic patch angioplasty for left coronary ostial stenosis in a patient with Takayasu's aortitis

A 35-year-old woman who had left coronary ostial stenosis and aortic valve regurgitation due to Takayasu's aortitis underwent transaortic patch enlargement of the stenosed left coronary ostium in combination with aortic valve replacement. This technique may be suitable and recommendable as an alternative to aortocoronary bypass grafting or endarterectomy for coronary ostial stenosis in Takayasu's aortitis.

Coronary arterial involvement in aortitis syndrome: Assessment by exercise thallium scintigraphy

It is important in patient management to evaluate coronary arterial involvement in aortitis syndrome. Twenty-one cases of aortitis syndrome who experienced chest pain were examined using exercise thallium scintigraphy. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the angiographic findings. There were five patients with left main coronary arterial involvement (group A), four with left or right coronary arterial involvement (group B), nine with aortic regurgitation (group C), and three with pulmonary arterial involvement (group D). In groups A and B, all patients had positive ECGs and thallium perfusion defects. Group A patients showed extensive anterolateral perfusion defects, which were compatible with left main coronary arterial involvement. Groups C and D patients, who had normal coronary arteries, showed no remarkable perfusion defects although five had positive ECG findings. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of exercise scintigraphy for detection of myocardial ischemia were 9/9 and 12/12, while those of stress ECG were 9/9 and 7/12 (58%), respectively. it is recommended that exercise thallium scintigraphy be used for detecting clinically occult but significant coronary arterial involvement in aortitis syndrome with chest pain.

Cardiac involvement in non-specific aorto-arteritis

Cardiac involvement in 75 cases (mean age 21.1 +/- 6 years) with non-specific aorto-arteritis was studied. Detailed clinical examination, echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, including angiography, were done in all the cases, as was coronary angiography. Features of cardiac failure like sinus tachycardia, cardiomegaly, left ventricular third heart sound gallop and pulmonary congestion were detected in 27 cases with reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (25-48%). Systemic hypertension was seen in 60 cases. Central aortic pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were increased in 66 cases. Pulmonary hypertension and increased pulmonary vascular resistance were detected in 6 cases. Aortic and mitral regurgitation were seen in 15 and 12 cases, respectively. Three patients had features of dilated cardiomyopathy such as generalized cardiomegaly, systemic and pulmonary congestion but without any cardiac murmurs and with normal central aortic pressure. The coronary angiogram revealed obstruction of the left anterior descending artery in 3 cases and right coronary artery obstruction in another 3 cases. Histopathological studies revealed non-specific inflammatory changes with fibrosis in cardiac musculature and the great vessels.

Surgical treatment of cardiac involvement in Takayasu arteritis

Cardiac involvement is a serious disorder in Takayasu arteritis. Surgical treatment of aortic root and coronary artery lesions due to Takayasu arteritis has many potential difficulties due to its inflammatory nature. We operated on 15 patients with cardiac involvement stemming from Takayasu arteritis. These patients are classified into 3 groups depending on the clinical diagnosis and surgical procedures employed: coronary artery involvement alone--coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), three patients (group A), aortic regurgitation with intact coronary artery--Aortic valve replacement or modified Bentall's operation, eight patients (group B), and aortic regurgitation with coronary artery involvement g aortic valve replacement or modified Bentall's operation with CABG, (4 patients) (group C). CABG was performed using saphenous vein graft. For aortic valve replacement or replacement of both the aortic valve and ascending aorta, a prosthetic valve or composite graft with Teflon felt flange was fabricated during surgery and treated with fibrin glue before insertion. A double fixation method with reinforcement by a Teflon felt strip was employed for proximal anastomosis of the flanged prosthesis. A button-shaped coronary ostium was directly anastomosed to the composite graft. There was no operative or hospital mortality. One patient died of brain abscess at 6 months after surgery and another patient with CABG required a second operation due to graft failure. Steroid therapy is recommended in cases diagnosed as being in an active stage until the inflammatory signs disappear.

Takayasu arteritis in Korea: Clinical and angiographic features

Clinical and angiographic features of Takayasu arteritis were investigated in 129 Korean patients. This disease affects females more frequently than males, in a ratio of 6.6 to 1. Of the total number of patients, 51 were in the third decade, 27 in the fourth decade, and 23 in the second decade. Common clinical symptoms were headache (60%), exertional dyspnea (42%), dizziness (36%), and malaise or weakness (34%). Takayasu arteritis affected the abdominal aorta (46%) and descending thoracic aorta (37%) more frequently than the ascending aorta (1%) and aortic arch (2%) According to Ueno's classification based on aortographic findings, the 129 patients were divided into type I (37), type II (25), and type III (67). Among the 48 patients who had coronary angiography, 11 (23%) showed coronary arterial involvement. Because the clinical features are determined by the extent and severity of the specific artery involved in the occlusive phase of the disease, total aortography including coronary angiography is very important in the initial evaluation of Takayasu arteritis.

Bilateral coronary ostial stenosis associated with aortitis syndrome

A patient with aortitis syndrome showed severe stenosis of the bilateral coronary ostium. We discuss the coronary angiographic findings and the treatment.

Exercise thallium scintigraphy in aortitis syndrome (Takayasu's arteritis)

It is important for patient management to evaluate coronary arterial involvement in aortitis syndrome. Twenty one cases of aortitis syndrome who experienced chest pain were examined using exercise thallium scintigraphy. The patients were divided into four groups according to the angiographic findings. There were: five patients with left main coronary arterial involvement (group A), four with left or right coronary arterial involvement (group B), nine with aortic regurgitation (group C), and three with pulmonary arterial involvement (group D). In group A and B, all patients had positive ECGs and thallium perfusion defects. Group A patients showed extensive anterolateral perfusion defects, which were compatible with left main coronary arterial involvement. Group C and D patients, who had normal coronary arteries, showed no remarkable perfusion defects although five had positive ECG findings. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of exercise scintigraphy for detection of myocardial ischemia were 9/9 and 12/12, while those of stress ECG were 9/9 and 7/12 (58%), respectively. It is recommended that exercise thallium scintigraphy be used for detecting clinically occult but significant coronary arterial involvement in aortitis syndrome with chest pain.

Angiographic recognition of coronary ostial stenosis in nonspecific aorto-arteritis

A 17-year-old girl was seen with acute anterior myocardial infarction resulting in congestive heart failure. Clinical examination followed by detailed investigation revealed diffuse nonspecific aorto-arteritis, with left coronary ostial stenosis, which is a very rare association. The relevant literature is reviewed.

Coronary arteritis in nonspecific aortoarteritis

Nonostial distal coronary artery involvement in nonspecific aortoarteritis is rare. We report a 35-year-old patient with features of nonspecific aortoarteritis who had an inferolateral myocardial infarction and on coronary angiography was shown to have severe disease of the left circumflex artery in its middle third.

Myocardial infarction in young Indian patients: risk factors and coronary arteriographic profile

One hundred four patients (101 men, three women), under 40 years of age, with myocardial infarction (MI), underwent coronary arteriography. Eighty patients had significant obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (group 1), 23 had normal coronary arteries (group 2), and one patient had coronary ostial stenosis as a result of nonspecific aortoarteritis (group 3). Coronary risk factors in group 1 included smoking (76.2%), hypercholesterolemia (36.3%), hypertension (32.5%), positive family history (28.7%), and diabetes mellitus (5%). Multiple risk factors were frequent (56.2%). Smoking was common (p less than 0.01) and diabetes mellitus less frequent (p less than 0.05) as compared to older (greater than 40 years) patients with MI and arteriographically proved CAD. The frequency of one-, two-, and three-vessel disease was 33.7%, 26.2%, and 40%, respectively, in group 1. Group 2 patients were almost devoid of coronary risk factors. The only group 3 patient had left coronary ostial stenosis with no risk factors. Similar to their counterparts in developed countries, young Indian patients with MI and obstructive CAD have a high frequency of coronary risk factors, especially smoking and severe multiple-vessel disease. Since normal coronary arteriograms are also frequent in this setting, a detailed evaluation is recommended for purposes of prognosis and management.

Effort angina without coronary obstruction in a patient with Takayasu's aortitis: a case report

Angina occurring in patients with Takayasu's aortitis is attributed to the narrowing of the coronary ostium and/or aortic regurgitation. We treated a patient with Takayasu's aortitis with effort angina, in whom there was no obstruction of the ostium or aortic regurgitation. Treadmill exercise stress test revealed significant ST depression in leads V4-6, II, III and aVF with chest pain. Examinations of lactate in coronary sinus as well as arterial blood suggested the occurrence of myocardial ischemia during atrial pacing. The DPTI/TTI index was decreased and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was increased during angina. It is considered that the reduced coronary perfusion pressure resulted from a low diastolic aortic pressure and the elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased the DPTI/TTI index and contributed to the development of subendocardial ischemia.

Isolated coronary periarteritis: report of a case of unexpected death in a young pregnant woman

A case of sudden unexpected death in a 23 year old woman in her 8th month of pregnancy is reported. Death occurred from isolated coronary periarteritis with thrombosis. It is believed that the thrombosis was secondary to the adventitial infiltrate, which was of a type suggesting a hypersensitivity factor. It is proposed that pathogenetically this case is identical to reported cases of dissecting hemorrhage or aneurysm of the coronary artery and represents an entity different from other forms of inflammatory coronary disease.

Coronary arterial narrowing in Takayasu's aortitis

A patient with Takayasu's aortitis and angina pectoris due to severe narrowing of the right and left coronary arterial ostia is described. Takayasu's arteritis produces a panaortitis, with thickening of the adventitia predominating, and an inflammatory cell infiltrate involving the adventitia, outer media and vasa vasorum. Narrowing of the coronary arteries in this disease is due to extension into these arteries of the processes of proliferation of the intima and contraction of the fibrotic media and adventitia that occur in the aorta. The distal coronary arteries usually do not manifest arteritis and are normal in caliber. Angina pectoris may be the first symptom of the disease if the coronary arteries are the initial site of severe arterial narrowing. The coronary arterial bypass graft operation is effective therapy for treating coronary arterial narrowing due to Takayasu's arteritis.