Ultrasonic Implantation and Imaging of Sound-Sensitive Theranostic Agents for the Treatment of Arterial Inflammation

For site-specific diseases such as atherosclerosis, it is desirable to noninvasively and locally deliver therapeutics for extended periods of time. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) provides targeted drug delivery, yet remains unable to sustain delivery beyond the HIFU treatment time. Furthermore, methods to validate HIFU-enhanced drug delivery remain limited. In this study, we report on HIFU-targeted implantation of degradable drug-loaded sound-sensitive multicavity PLGA microparticles (mcPLGA MPs) as a theranostic agent for the treatment of arterial lesions. Once implanted into the targeted tissue, mcPLGA MPs eluted dexamethasone for several days, thereby reducing inflammatory markers linked to oxidized lipid uptake in a foam cell spheroid model. Furthermore, implanted mcPLGA MPs created hyperechoic regions on diagnostic ultrasound images, and thus noninvasively verified that the target region was treated with the theranostic agents. This novel and innovative multifunctional theranostic platform may serve as a promising candidate for noninvasive imaging and treatment for site-specific diseases such as atherosclerosis.

Characteristics and prognosis of IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis: A systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a systemic chronic fibroinflammatory disease that can affect almost every organ of the body. IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis is a newly recognized subset of IgG4-related disease, and its characteristics and prognosis remain unclear. We investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review of IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis. Additionally, we have summarized the characteristics and prognosis of IgG4-related coronary arteritis.

RESULTS

We investigated 248 patients with IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis. All studies reported the condition in elderly patients, and male predominance was observed. The infra-renal abdominal aorta and iliac arteries were the most commonly affected sites. Most reports showed the serum C-reactive protein elevation in this disease entity, in contrast to non-vascular IgG4-related disease. Based on radiological findings observed in 27 patients with IgG4-related coronary arteritis, vasculitic lesions were classified into 3 types: stenotic (67% of patients), aneurysmal (42%), and diffuse wall thickening type (92%). Serum IgG4 level, but not C-reactive protein level, was associated with the number of affected organs in IgG4-related coronary arteritis. Corticosteroid treatment with or without cardiac surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention was effective in most patients with IgG4-related coronary arteritis; however, 33% of patients showed an unfavorable clinical course including disease progression, relapse, or death. Pre-treatment stenosis and/or aneurysms were associated with progression of stenosis or aneurysm after corticosteroid treatment.

CONCLUSION

Most clinical characteristics were similar between the IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis and the non-vascular IgG4-related disease groups; however, serum C-reactive protein level elevation was observed only in the former. Although corticosteroid treatment was effective, this disease can be life-threatening secondary to myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, and aneurysmal rupture. Pre-treatment evaluation of stenosis or aneurysms is important for predicting progression of stenosis or aneurysm after corticosteroid treatment.

Current concepts in the diagnosis, pathogenesis and management of nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy

Nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is the most common acute optic neuropathy in patients over the age of 50 and is the second most common cause of permanent optic nerve-related visual loss in adults after glaucoma. Patients typically present with acute, painless, unilateral loss of vision associated with a variable visual field defect, a relative afferent pupillary defect, a swollen, hyperaemic optic disc, and one or more flame-shaped peripapillary retinal haemorrhages. The pathogenesis of this condition is unknown, but it occurs primarily in patients with structurally small optic discs that have little or no cup and a variety of underlying vascular disorders that may or may not be known at the time of visual loss. There is no consistently beneficial medical or surgical treatment for the condition, but there are now animal models that allow testing of various potential therapies. About 40% of patients experience spontaneous improvement in visual acuity. Patients in whom NAION occurs in one eye have a 15-19% risk of developing a similar event in the opposite eye over the subsequent 5 years.

Radiation coronary arteritis refractory to surgical and percutaneous revascularization culminating in orthotopic heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) comprises of 4% of malignancies diagnosed in children from birth to 14 years of age. While overall survival rates have increased, HL survivors can be at risk of late cardiovascular complications from radiotherapy. HL survivors with a history of mediastinal RT have been found to have an increased incidence of myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, and valvular disorders compared to the general population.

METHODS

A 33 year old female with a history of HL status post chemotherapy and mediastinal radiation 11 years ago became symptomatic with multivessel coronary artery disease with aggressive progression of her disease despite coronary bypass graft surgery, patch angioplasty of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) with an extracellular bioscaffold, and repeated percutaneous coronary intervention of the LMCA. She eventually underwent orthotopic heart transplant and did well postoperatively.

RESULTS

Histopathological analysis of the explanted heart revealed a variety of sequelae of radiation arteritis, including thrombosis of both native vessels and arterial grafts, intimal hyperplasia and involvement of the bioscaffold in the left main coronary vasculature. The bioscaffold did not contribute significantly to the stenosis within the LMCA.

CONCLUSION

Our case demonstrates an unusual indication for OHT due to severe refractory radiation induced CAD, as well the wide spectrum of the histopathologic manifestations of radiation induced arteritis.

[Alternative method of surgical treatment for aortic arteritis in non-repairable forms of vessels damage]

The purpose of the work--the choice of optimal treatment tactics of patients at the extremity tissue ischemia due to nonspecific aortoarteritis (NA). In the surgical treatment of patients with NA, particularly with concomitant peripheral lesions, and to a greater degree of terminal arterial bed, significantly limited the possibility of direct revascularization. Conservative treatment and subthoracal sympathectomy are ineffective. Autotransplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), adipose tissue or bone marrow in ischemic tissue in the form of aspirates or selected from these aspirates cell cultures allowed to correct hemodynamic disorders by stimulating angiogenesis and development of collateral circulation.

Treatment of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is the most common clinical presentation of acute ischemic damage to the optic nerve. Most treatments proposed for NAION are empirical and include a wide range of agents presumed to act on thrombosis, on the blood vessels, or on the disk edema itself. Others are presumed to have a neuroprotective effect. Although there have been multiple therapies attempted, most have not been adequately studied, and animal models of NAION have only recently emerged. The Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial, the only class I large multicenter prospective treatment trial for nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, found no benefit from surgical intervention. One recent large, nonrandomized controlled study suggested that oral steroids might be helpful for acute NAION. Others recently proposed interventions are intravitreal injections of steroids or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. There are no class I studies showing benefit from either medical or surgical treatments. Most of the literature on the treatment of NAION consists of retrospective or prospective case series and anecdotal case reports. Similarly, therapies aimed at secondary prevention of fellow eye involvement in NAION remain of unproven benefit.

Cannabis arteritis: a new case report and a review of literature

Cannabis arteritis manifests in cannabis users, independently of tobacco consumption. Around 50 cases were reported in the literature since the first description of this entity in 1960. We report the case of a 36-year-old man, cannabis user, without vascular risk factor who developed digital necrosis on the right foot. The pedal pulses were not palpable. He had no abnormal laboratory findings. Arteriography revealed distal segmental lesions and occlusion of popliteal artery. This arteritis was linked to cannabis use, but the patient did not stop cannabis consumption. His symptoms became even worse and he eventually developed sub-acute ischaemia in his left leg despite vascular treatments. Amputation of the right second toe and of the left leg finally became necessary. Cannabis arteritis is relatively similar to thromboangiitis obliterans in its clinical and arteriographical presentation. A parallelism can be made between the role of tobacco in thromboangiitis obliterans pathogenesis and the role of cannabis in cannabis arteritis. Cannabis use must be searched in young patients presenting with arteriopathy. Cannabis arteritis may indeed represent a frequent cause of juvenile peripheral obstructive arterial disease, but is probably under-diagnosed.

[Restenosis after coronary angioplasty: pathomechanism and potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Focus on inflammation]

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has become the most widely implemented method of heart revascularization. Despite many advances, such as application of bare metal stents, high-pressure inflation, and the recent invention of drug-eluting stents, restenosis remains the major limitation of invasive cardiology and is associated with a significant number or target lesion re-interventions. This review highlights contemporary concepts of the pathogenesis of coronary restenosis and potential targets for therapeutic intervention, with a special emphasis on the role of inflammation and distinctions in vessel re-narrowing patterns after balloon angioplasty and both bare metal and drug-eluting stenting.

Inflammation und Atherogenese bei Diabetes mellitus

Atherogenesis is characterized by a chronic process, which commences years before diabetes mellitus becomes overt. Each step of the pathogenetic cascade is accompanied by inflammation. The degree of inflammation is a key determinant for the process of atherogenesis. C-reactive protein is elevated by inflammatory processes, correlates with the atherosclerotic prognosis and is therefore an important marker of inflammation. It denotes early cardiovascular damages and is elevated in acute coronary syndromes. Cardiovascular risk is excessively elevated in diabetic patients and inflammatory mechanisms are predominant in this group. Preventive interventions and therapeutic strategies based on pathophysiological processes are necessary. The importance of treatment of inflammation increases. Glitazones have been demonstrated to act via antiinflammatory effects. They do not only improve glucose utilisation, but also have pleiotropic effects, which target the increased cardiovascular risks in diabetic patients.

Human pythiosis, a rare cause of arteritis: case report and literature review

OBJECTIVE

To present a case of Pythium insidiosum arteritis and review reported cases of human pythiosis.

METHODS

Search of MEDLINE (PubMed) and the Thai Index Medicus was performed using the words "pythiosis" and "pythium." Search of abstracts from a scientific meeting also was performed. Only reported cases in the English or Thai language, with enough clinical information for analysis, were included.

RESULTS

There were a total of 32 cases of human pythiosis, with 31 identified in the literature. Twenty-five cases were Thai. Twenty of 21 patients with known occupations were farmers. There was ocular infection in 9 cases, subcutaneous infection in 5 cases, arterial infection in 17 cases, and cardiopulmonary infection in 1 case. Thalassemia was a common associated finding. In addition to systemic antifungal therapy, surgery was required in most cases. The highest mortality rate was seen in the arteritic form, particularly in patients with arterial lesions proximal to the superficial femoral artery.

CONCLUSIONS

Human pythiosis is rare. Physicians should be suspicious of pythiosis in individuals, particularly farmers in Thailand, who develop nonhealing cutaneous ulcers or keratitis, which do not respond to conventional treatment. P insidiosum infections should be listed as a rare cause of infectious arteritis.

Early and late presentations of radiation arteritis

Radiotherapy (XRT) plays a prominent role in the therapy of a variety of malignancies. Improved survival for malignancies treated with XRT has produced a growing subset of patients who present several years later with arterial occlusive disease in the irradiated field. Establishing a presumptive diagnosis of radiation arteritis (RA) is based on clinical history and the arteriographic appearance of lesions. The lesions of RA often occur in atypical locations with adjacent arterial beds largely spared of atherosclerosis. The indications for intervention for RA do not differ significantly from atherosclerotic arterial lesions. In most cases, RA lesions do not merit treatment unless they become symptomatic. However, asymptomatic carotid artery lesions should be considered for intervention because they are particularly prone to progression and development of neurologic symptoms. Percutaneous and endovascular techniques are viable treatment options for lesions with favorable anatomy. Operative interventions often require extraanatomic approaches and autogenous conduits to optimize outcomes in irradiated fields.

Localized versus systemic vasculitis: diagnosis and management

Localized vasculitis restricted to a specific anatomic site or organ is often histologically indistinguishable from more severe, systemic forms of vasculitis. By definition, localized vasculitis involves blood vessels within a confined vascular distribution or single organ without clinical evidence of generalized inflammation. Important factors that determine treatment and prognosis, in what appears initially to be a localized process, include histopathologic type, organ site, and the presence of systemic inflammatory markers and symptoms. The major issue is whether single organ vasculitis is actually an isolated form of the disease in which case surgical excision is curative, or whether the single organ involvement is simply a precursor of more threatening systemic vasculitis. The Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score is a valuable tool to identify those patients with concurrent systemic involvement. The physician's recognition of a localized versus systemic vasculitic process is important in terms of making the correct diagnosis, prescribing treatment, and arranging appropriate clinical follow-up.

[Decompensation of lower limb arteritis after bone and joint surgery]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Decompensation of lower limb arteritis after bone and joint surgery is an unusual finding compared with the large number of procedures performed in both emergency and controlled settings. There is however a functional and limb-threatening risk that must not be overlooked.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We report a series of 9 patients followed in our department over the last 3 years. Emergency surgery had been required in 6 patients after trauma and 3 had undergone a planned orthopedic procedure. All the patients had at least one vascular risk factor, and 7 of them had a cardiovascular history. The inaugural sign was a trophic disorder due to a grade IV decompensated arteritis in 8 patients, including 2 with nonunion. Delay to treatment ranged from 1 to 3 months. Acute embolic ischemia required emergency care in 1 patient.

RESULTS

A revascularization procedure was performed on 6 limbs and was successful in 3. There were also 6 amputations, three initially, 1 after septic shock and 2 because revascularization was impossible. Three of the amputations were required after failed revascularization. Prosthesis wearing and walking was possible in only two amputated patients. Overall rate of successful salvage was 33% (3 successful revascularizations among 9 limbs). One of the nonunions healed after revascularization; the limb was amputated for the other one. One patient died from septicemia.

DISCUSSION

Our series further illustrates the severity of decompensated arteritis after bone and joint surgery, emphasizing the importance of searching for cardiovascular risk factors and functional signs suggestive of a vascular disorder. Arterial duplex Doppler and if necessary arteriography of the lower limbs should be obtained in case of doubt. Two different situations can be distinguished depending on the predictable vascular risk and the localization of the planned bone reconstruction. If the patient has an asymptomatic proximal arteritis and bone and joint surgery is planned above the knee, a revascularization procedure would not appear necessary prior to bone surgery. In other cases, it may be more advisable to treat the arteritis before attempting bone surgery. For trauma victims, the osteosynthesis technique depends greatly on knowledge of the vascular risk.

Multiple occlusive retinal arteritis in both eyes of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

PURPOSE

To report multiple occlusive retinal arteritis as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis.

CASE

A 67-year-old woman developed superotemporal branch retinal artery occlusion in both eyes, together with arterial sheathing and large cotton wool patches around the optic disc, in the course of rheumatoid arthritis with moderate activity.

OBSERVATIONS

Fluorescein angiography disclosed delayed filling of the superotemporal retinal artery in the right eye and no filling of the superotemporal artery in the left eye. In addition, segmental absence of filling was found in peripheral branches of the other major retinal arteries in both eyes. After hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravenous administration of prostaglandin E1 and urokinase for 2 weeks, there was improvement in her vision.

CONCLUSION

Multiple occlusive retinal arteritis in rheumatoid arthritis can manifest as retinal artery occlusion. Rheumatoid arthritis should be included in the differential diagnosis of bilateral retinal artery occlusion.

Inclusion of the E3 region in an adenoviral vector decreases inflammation and neointima formation after arterial gene transfer

Adenoviral vectors are promising agents for vascular gene transfer. Their use, however, is limited by inflammatory host responses, neointima formation, and brevity of transgene expression. Inclusion of the immunomodulatory adenoviral E3 genes in a vector might prevent inflammation and neointima formation and prolong transgene expression. We compared 2 adenoviral vectors in a model of in vivo gene transfer to rabbit arteries. Both vectors expressed a luciferase reporter gene. One vector (AdE3Luc) contained the adenovirus early 3 (E3) region and the other (AdRSVLuc) lacked E3. Expression of E3 genes by AdE3Luc was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Arteries transduced with AdE3Luc had substantially and significantly less inflammation (fewer T cells and lower levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression) and decreased neointima formation 14 days after gene transfer. Luciferase expression from the 2 vectors was equivalent, however, at both 3 and 14 days after gene transfer. Expression of E3 had no systemic immunosuppressive effects, as measured by peripheral blood counts and by assays for serum antibodies to adenovirus. We conclude that expression of E3 significantly decreases adenovirus-induced arterial wall inflammation and neointima formation. Because inflammation and neointima formation are major barriers to the clinical application of adenoviral vectors, use of E3-containing vectors improves the promise of adenovirus-mediated arterial gene transfer.

Cannabis arteritis revisited--ten new case reports

The purpose of this paper was to revisit the old concept of cannabis arteritis first described in the 1960s and report 10 new cases. Ten male patients, with a median age of 23.7 years developed subacute distal ischemia of lower or upper limbs, leading to necrosis in the toes and/or fingers and sometimes to distal limb gangrene. Two of the patients also presented with venous thrombosis and three patients were suffering from a recent Raynaud's phenomenon. Biological test results did not show evidence of the classical vascular risk factors for thrombosis. Arteriographic evaluation in all cases revealed distal abnormalities in the arteries of feet, legs, forearms, and hands resembling those of Buerger's disease. A collateral circulation sometimes with opacification of the vasa nervorum was noted. In some cases, arterial proximal atherosclerotic lesions and venous thrombosis were observed. All patients were moderate tobacco smokers and regular cannabis users. Despite treatment with ilomedine and heparin in all cases, five amputations were necessary in four patients. The vasoconstrictor effect of cannabis on the vascular system has been known for a long time. It has been shown that delta-8- and delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinols may induce peripheral vasoconstrictor activity. Cannabis arteritis resembles Buerger's disease, but patients were moderate tobacco smokers and regular cannabis users. These cases show that prolonged use of cannabis could be an additive risk factor for juvenile and young adult arteritis. Cannabis arteritis is a forgotten and severe occlusive vascular disease occurring in young adults. Search for cannabis use may be an important tool for a better knowledge of arteritis in young smokers.

[Radiation-induced aorto-ilio-femoral arterial arteritis. Mediocrity of the long-term results after conventional surgery]

OBJECTIVES

To assess long-term outcome after surgical cure of radiation-induced aorto-ilio-femoral arterial occlusion and to deduce therapeutic indications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Over a 20-year period, 15 patients were treated for occlusion of the aorto-ilio-femoral vessels 4 to 28 years after receiving radiotherapy. Primary treatment was medical (n=1), balloon dilatation (n=5), anatomic revascularization (n=5), and extra-anatomic bypass (n=4). Mean follow-up was 6.8 years.

RESULTS

Among the 5 balloon dilatations, there was one failure requiring right axillofemoral bypass that was followed shortly by fatal septic shock; the 4 others have remained patent at 2 to 15 years, one having required stent dilatation at 6 months. Among the 5 patients who had anatomic revascularization, excepting on patient who died shortly after surgery from her cancer, all have required revision; 2 patients died of infection at 9 and 10 years; the two others are alive at 5 and 18 years. Among the 4 patients with extra-anatomic bypass (one aortothoracic-bifemoral bypass, two axillofemoral bypasses and one cross-over bypass), 2 died with prosthetic sepsis at 3 and 7 years and 2 others have had a bypass replacement. Overall, at last follow-up, half of the operated patients have died from infection (n=5) or cancer (n=2).

DISCUSSION

In reports in the literature, revision and infection after conventional surgery is frequent. There is less risk with the endovascular approach, but it can be only applied for short occlusions.

CONCLUSION

Excepting easily accessible occlusions with an apparent minimal risk for percutaneous balloon dilatation, irradiated arteries should be operated on only in case of severe ischemia. Patients with claudication should be treated conservatively because of the high risk of complications for prosthesis implantation with irradiated arteries.

Neointima formation in a restenosis model is suppressed in midkine-deficient mice

Neointima formation is a common feature of atherosclerosis and restenosis after balloon angioplasty. To find a new target to suppress neointima formation, we investigated the possible role of midkine (MK), a heparin-binding growth factor with neurotrophic and chemotactic activities, in neointima formation. MK expression increased during neointima formation caused by intraluminal balloon injury of the rat carotid artery. Neointima formation in a restenosis model was strongly suppressed in MK-deficient mice. Continuous administration of MK protein to MK-deficient mice restored neointima formation. Leukocyte recruitment to the vascular walls after injury was markedly decreased in MK-deficient mice. Soluble MK as well as that bound to the substratum induced migration of macrophages in vitro. These results indicate that MK plays a critical role in neointima formation at least in part owing to its ability to mediate leukocyte recruitment.

[Treatment of ANCA-positive systemic vasculitis with intravenous immunoglobins]

PURPOSE

ANCA positive systemic vasculitis comprises Wegener granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS). In WG, anti-Pr3 ANCA are present in 90% of the cases, whereas in MPA and CSS ANCA are present in 40 to 80% and 25 to 60% of the cases, respectively, with anti-MPO specificity. The treatment of WG and MPA associates prednisone and cyclophosphamide, and clinical remission is obtained in 70 to 90% of the cases. However, relapses occur in 10 to 30% of the patients and tolerance of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy is not always good.

STATE OF THE ART

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are well tolerated and indicated in a large number of autoimmune and systemic inflammatory diseases. In vitro IVIg specifically inhibit ANCA activity through V-region dependent interaction of anti-ANCA anti-idiotypic antibodies with ANCA. Several open studies and a few case reports of patients with WG or MPA treated with IVIg were published in the past seven years, with various results.

PROJECTS

A prospective controlled multicenter study is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of IVIg in the treatment of ANCA positive vasculitides.

Vasculitis in the seriously ill patient: diagnostic approaches and therapeutic options in ANCA-associated vasculitis

The clinical severity of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) ranges widely from relatively benign courses to rapidly progressive, acutely life-threatening disease. The aggressiveness in the individual patient depends on the site and size of vessels involved and on the severity of the associated inflammatory/immunological features. The scope of life-threatening lesions reaches from the well-known pulmonary renal syndrome to cardiac, gastrointestinal and central nervous system manifestations. Treatment must be instituted as soon as possible and consists of daily cyclophosphamide and high-dose glucocorticosteroids. Plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and monoclonal antibodies may be of benefit in some cases.

Application of HELP in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study

BACKGROUND

Heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL/fibrinogen precipitation (HELP) eliminates selectively fibrinogen, LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides and LP(a) from blood plasma using extracorporeal circulation. The reduction of fibrinogen and LDL by about 50% after only one procedure immediately improves the hemorheological situation.

METHOD

In a prospective, randomized, controlled study over a period of 3 months, 40 patients with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) were randomly assigned to either HELP or hemodilution therapy to determine the efficacy of these two treatments on visual acuity and fields.

RESULTS

After transformation of the Snellen acuity into logMAR units the statistical analysis did not show a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.48). An increase of the visual acuity by two or more lines was obtained in 9 patients (47.4%) of the HELP group, 10 (52.6%) remained stable and none got worse. In the hemodilution group, visual acuity increased in patients (33.4%), 9 (42.8%) remained stable and 5 (23.8%) experienced a decrease. The calculated mean sensitivity of visual fields at baseline improved statistically significantly (P < 0.01) in the HELP group from 6.83 +/- 4.52 dB to 8.27 +/- 4.89 dB, but did not change significantly in the hemodilution group (6.25 +/- 4.12 dB to 6.12 +/- 3.92 dB).

CONCLUSION

The HELP system seems to be safe and more effective than hemodilution in improving the hemorheological and the functional situation in NAION and could be a promising regimen in the treatment of NAION.

A decade of subclavian angioplasty: aortoarteritis versus atherosclerosis

The therapeutic outcome of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for subclavian steno-occlusive disease performed over the last 10 years was assessed in 60 consecutive patients of aortoarteritis (n = 35) and atherosclerosis (n = 25). Sixty lesions were stenotic and 6 short segment total occlusions. Twenty-five lesions were prevertebral and 41 postvertebral. PTA was successful in 56 (primary success rate 93.3%) stenotic lesions and 3 (50%) total occlusions. In comparison to atherosclerosis, patients with aortoarteritis were younger (27.7 +/- 9.1 versus 54.7 +/- 10.7 years; p < 0.001), more often female (75% versus 20%; p < 0.001), gangrene was uncommon (0% versus 16%; p < 0.05) and diffuse involvement was more often seen (42.9% versus 4.0%; p < 0.001). The luminal diameter stenosis was similar before PTA (88.6 +/- 9.7% versus 89.0 +/- 9.1%; p = NS); however, aortoarteritis group had more residual stenosis (15.7 +/- 12.5% versus 8.3 +/- 9.6%; p < 0.05) after PTA. Higher balloon inflation pressure was required to dilate the lesions of aortoarteritis (9.9 +/- 4.6 versus 5.5 +/- 1.0 atm; p < 0.001). Three (5%) patients had complications which could be effectively managed nonsurgically. There were no neurological sequelae, even in PTA of prevertebral lesions. On clinical follow-up over a period of 4-120 (43.7 +/- 29.6) months in 45 of the 60 (75%) patients, higher restenosis rate (20.8% versus 4.8%; p = NS) was observed in aortoarteritis group, particularly in those patients with diffuse arterial narrowing. These lesions could be effectively redilated. Successful PTA resulted in marked improvement in symptoms on long-term follow-up. In conclusion, subclavian PTA is safe and can be as effectively performed in aortoarteritis as in atherosclerosis with good long-term results.

Renal vasculitis

The term 'vasculitides' encompasses a group of inflammatory disorders which may affect the kidney by damaging its blood supply. Although the kidney may be affected by many types of systemic vasculitis, renal involvement is particularly frequent in some forms of systemic necrotizing vasculitis which are considered primary, such as Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyarteritis, including its 'renal-limited' variant. Renal vasculitis can occur at any age, but is seen particularly frequently in middle-aged and elderly subjects, in whom clinical presentation and prognosis are significantly worse. In addition to the specific problems related to age, this review focuses on a few aspects that are still the subjects of debate: classification, the role of ANCA, renal pathology and the treatment of renal vasculitis.

[Coronary arteritis of Kawasaki disease unresponsive to high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin successfully treated with plasmapheresis]

Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized by marked activation of immune system and generalized vasculitis including coronary arteritis, and the intravenous gammaglobulin therapy is recommended as the first line of the choices. However, in some fulminant cases the coronary arteritis progresses rapidly and extensively in the early phase of the disease despite of the aggressive high-dose gammaglobulin administration. Recent observations indicated that the vasculitis begins at the endothelial cells which are activated by several inflammatory cytokines and are adhered to by cytokine-activated cytotoxic immune cells. Thus, it is important for the prevention of coronary arteritis and the resultant coronary aneurysm to reduce the inflammatory cytokines in the plasma. We reported here a 4-year-old girl with coronary arteritis which began on the 3rd day of the disease. The patient was fulfilled the revised criteria of KD at the hospital admission. As the initial intravenous gammaglobulins (400 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days and the subsequent 1 g/kg single intravenous infusion) revealed ineffective, which was judged by echocardiography in the persistence of brightness of the slightly widened coronary artery, and by laboratory data, we conducted therapeutic approach of plasmapheresis (replacement of plasma with 5% albumin in saline) on 8-10th days of KD. Fever was down to normal range soon after the first plasmapheresis, and after the second pheresis CRP was reduced, and finally on the 10th day echocardiography demonstrated marked improvement of inflamed coronary artery. The precise mechanism of the effective plasmapheresis is to be investigated, but it is possible that the removal of inflammatory cytokines from the plasma ceased the subsequent endothelial cell damage and coronary arteritis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Thermal treatment in arterial diseases: an expensive placebo or an effective therapy?]

Each year, Royat (Auvergne) receives about 20,000 patients (80 per cent with intermittent claudication), treated by thermal gas (99.5 per cent of CO2). CO2 therapy is dispensed with thermal water or with dry gas (general or local immersion and local subcutaneous injections of gas) during 3 weeks. Local vasodilator effects of CO2 have been demonstrated with several methods in Royat. Physiological and therapeutic effects of thermal CO2 therapy, also used in Germany and Central Europe, were precisely reported during the Consensus Congress of Fribourg in Brisgau (1989); more particularly, this treatment seems provide a reduced ability of haemoglobin to fix oxygen, and therefore a release of oxygen within the cells. Patients with peripheral arterial disease (stage 2) have a walking distance increased and post-exercise ankles' pressures improved after a thermal course of treatment in Royat, while a control group has no significant changes. The discussion will concern also the socio-economic aspects of thermal treatment of arterial diseases.

Peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial diseases are common problems because atherosclerosis, the most common cause of both occlusive peripheral arterial disease and aneurysmal disease, is a feature of an aging population. The less common types of occlusive peripheral arterial disease--the vasospastic disorders and the arteritides--although frequently not addressed to any extent in medical school curricula or in residency programs in family and internal medicine, offer the alert and informed clinician diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities that are too important to neglect. As a group, abnormalities of the peripheral arteries are easy to detect if careful observation and examination of the extremities is included in the physical examination and attention to functional disorders is included in the medical history. In this presentation, the clinical features, physical findings, complications, useful noninvasive diagnostic tests, imaging techniques, and therapeutic options for atherosclerotic occlusive peripheral arterial disease (both chronic and acute), uncommon types of occlusive arterial disease of both the lower and upper extremities, the vasospastic disorders, and the peripheral arterial presentations of the arteritides are reviewed. The application of natural history and comorbidity of a particular arterial disease, when available, is emphasized in the formulation of management for the individual patient.

Diagnostic features and management of bacterial arteritis with false aneurysm formation

Primary bacterial arteritis with false aneurysm formation is an uncommon condition. This report presents seven patients admitted to one unit over a 5-year period. Interesting aspects of the clinical presentation are discussed. The importance of surgical debridement, extra-anatomic bypass, antibiotic therapy and antibiotic irrigation of the infected aneurysm cavity is stressed. The relative merits of extra-anatomic bypass and in situ grafting for aortic infection are discussed. By following these principles, this series of patients have had a successful surgical outcome and all the signs of infection have been eradicated.

Systemic vasculitis

The systemic vasculitides are comparatively rare but important disorders of childhood. Apart from Henoch-Schönlein purpura, which is the commonest example in paediatric practice, Kawasaki disease is most often encountered. Polyarteritis and Wagener's granulomatosis have a lower incidence but are associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Newer investigative procedures and therapeutic approaches have led to more accurate diagnoses and improved outcome but further advances await a better understanding of the vasculitides: polyarteritis; Kawasaki disease; Wagener's granulomatosis; and ANCA in childhood.

ANCA anti-idiotype antibodies and the treatment of systemic vasculitis with intravenous immunoglobulin

The presence of anti-idiotype antibodies (anti-id) to anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCA) in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and remission sera from patients with systemic vasculitis, and the use of IVIg as an alternative therapeutic agent in open studies, has suggested a role for idiotypic regulation in the normal control of these disorders. Clinical benefit with IVIg has been reported in 15/16 patients, with sustained remission in eight. The ability of IVIg to produce lasting remission has been associated with a fall in ANCA levels and stimulation of endogenous immunoglobulin production. IVIg has the potential to influence the pathogenetic process in patients with vasculitis at several stages, and an influence on the idiotypic regulation of ANCA may explain the observed clinical responses and point to possible targets for more specific immunotherapy in the future.

[Arteritis of the lower limbs in diabetics]

37 cases of diabetic arteritis of lower limbs in diabetic patients were retrospectively studied, from 1988 to 1991. Mean age was 66 years. Masculine predominance was evident with a sex ratio of 1/10. The majority of our patients have consulted at a late stage with trophic disturbance of inferior limbs, indeed 18 patients were seen at the 4th stage. Mortification was observed in 55% cases. Arteriography has allowed to show an elective localization of lesions at the femoralis arteria, profunda femoralis arteria and distal axes. Operative indication was made in 22 patients. Conservative surgery was performed for 50% of the operated patients. Conservative surgery results had been relatively less satisfactory than for others arteritis, particular because of late consultation and the condition of diabetic patients.

[Isolated arteritis of the central nervous system]

Isolated arteritis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a relatively rare condition. Of the patients treated at our department two presented with characteristic features and eventually the diagnosis of isolated arteritis of the CNS was established. Headaches and relapsing lesions of cerebral nerves were predominant in the clinical picture of the first patient. In agreement with the clinical picture suggesting that small arteries were affected, the angiographic (AG) finding was negative and the diagnosis was based mainly on the positive effect of immunosuppressive treatment. The second patient with relapsing monofocal brain damage had a typical AG finding and a positive response to the treatment. The clinical picture of isolated arteritis of the CNS can be rather varied, with headaches and different neurological features being predominant. Both AG and bioptic examinations may prove negative. Positive response to immunosuppressive treatment is to be considered a characteristic feature of the disease. (Fig. 3, Ref. 11.)

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis: a form of microscopic polyarteritis?

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis remains a diagnosis of exclusion in patients who present with pulmonary alveolar haemorrhage. Systemic vasculitis developed in a patient with an eight year history of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by a rising titre of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against myeloperoxidase. Treatment with immunosuppressive agents resulted in complete resolution of symptoms and suppression of the antibodies. Measurement of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies is recommended for all patients with pulmonary alveolar haemorrhage syndromes.

[Immunological disorders of homeostasis and the methods of their correction for the programmed and preoperative treatment of patients with nonspecific aorto-arteritis]

The authors examined 29 patients with aorto-arteritis of unspecific origin of different duration and variants of affections of the major vessels. The patients were divided into groups with active and inactive course of the inflammatory process. The changes of immunological values and the phagocytosis data were more marked in the group with the active phase of the disease. These changes correlated with the data on unspecific inflammation and the clinical picture. Twenty-two patients were treated by hemosorption and immunocorrective measures. The fibrinogen concentration reduced, the ESR was normalized, and C-reactive protein became negative. The concentration of circulating immune complex and immunoglobulins diminished, the phagocytosis values became close to normal. It is concluded that hemosorption is an effective method of correction of immunological disorders in unspecific aorto-arteritis, both as an independent therapeutic method and as a measure of preoperative management.