1/28. Cardiovascular involvement in a boy with Sweet's syndrome.Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) is a rare disease in infancy. It may present in an isolated manner or be associated with diverse conditions. Only two children with postinflammatory slack skin who developed cardiovascular disease have been described to date, both of whom died from coronary artery occlusion. We report a boy with Sweet's syndrome and diffuse vascular disease involving the aorta and the supraaortic vessels, the pulmonary trunk, and the right coronary artery but without signs of coronary obstruction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = artery, obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/28. skin tags and the atherogenic lipid profile.This report details four patients who had skin tags, mainly on their torso, neck, and axillae, and who also displayed an abnormal lipid profile. All showed an increased serum triglyceride (fasting > 1.70 mmol/litre) and a decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (< 1.1 mmol/litre in women and 1.0 mmol/litre for men) concentration. The displayed lipid profile is also known as the atherogenic profile and is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Two of the patients had impaired glucose tolerance and one had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Three of the individuals had coronary artery disease. skin tags might be a useful clinical sign that could alert clinicians to screen such individuals for abnormal lipids, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.49237394660713keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/28. Endovascular treatment of cranial venous sinus obstruction resulting in pseudotumor syndrome. Report of three cases.It is probable that a significant number of cases of pseudotumor syndrome (PTS) occur because of cranial venous outflow obstruction, yet reports of direct treatment of the obstruction are few and inconclusive. In this study the authors report three cases of PTS with angiographically confirmed venous sinus obstruction treated by direct, endovascular procedures; urokinase infusion in two and balloon venoplasty in one. Two patients suffered transient complications that resolved satisfactorily. All three showed initial resolution of the signs and symptoms of PTS but one relapsed after 8 months and required surgical treatment. The possible role and methods of treatment of cranial venous outflow obstruction in PTS are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.12201685428594keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/28. Cerivastatin induces carotid artery plaque stabilization independently of cholesterol lowering in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.To prevent cardiovascular events in hyperlipidaemic patients, plaque stabilization by inhibition of localized inflammatory reactions in the blood vessels is important in addition to cholesterol lowering. Cerivastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase inhibitor (statin), has more potent enzyme-inhibitory effects than other statins and has also been reported in vitro to inhibit, at low concentrations, various inflammatory reactions due to plaque instability. Cerivastatin was therefore administered over 12 months to five patients with hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerotic plaque diagnosed by ultrasonography of the carotid artery, and changes in the plaque composition were determined. The mean cholesterol level decreased over the study period, although not significantly. However, the mean percentage of fibrous matrix of the plaque increased significantly from a mean of 11.2 /- 7.7% at study entry to 18.3 /- 5.9% at the end of the study. Additionally, the mean maximum plaque height was significantly reduced from 3.7 /- 0.9 mm to 3.0 /- 0.7 mm. These results indicate that cerivastatin induces plaque stability independently of cholesterol lowering.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.4618697330356keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/28. Serious complications after umbilical artery catheterization for neonatal monitoring.Umbilical artery catheterization in critically ill neonates caused major complications, including five deaths, in 15 of 165 infants with respiratory distress syndrome who underwent autopsy at the UCLA Hospital during the past eight years. Arterial occlusion leading to visceral infarction occurred in 12 patients, and vascular perforation caused hemoperitoneum in three patients. Repeated catheter manipulation and protracted catheter use were common factors identified in patients in whom complications developed. Restricted indications for catheter use, routine roentgenographic confirmation of catheter tip location below the kidneys, low-dosage heparin sodium infusion, use of cannulas with decreased thrombogenicity, avoidance of catheter manipulation, and vigilance to remove catheters when no longer required should reduce the incidence of this iatrogenic neonatal complication while still permitting arterial pressure and blood gas monitoring when clinically indicated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.4618697330356keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/28. Prevention for the older woman. A practical guide to managing cardiovascular disease.American women are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than from any other cause. Although hypertension is most prevalent, most deaths are attributed to coronary heart disease. heart disease in women manifests approximately 12 to 15 years later than in men, up until menopause. Then the severity of coronary artery lesions in women accelerates until it equals or surpasses that of men by the late 70s or early 80s. physicians can help older women reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke by managing hypertension and hypercholesterolemia and providing beta-blocker treatment when indicated after MI. Nonpharmacologic interventions may be effective as well. New guidelines for aspirin help identify women under age 80 who would benefit most from antiplatelet therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.49237394660713keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/28. Post-mortem findings in familial partial lipodystrophy, Dunnigan variety.AIMS: Familial partial lipodystrophy, Dunnigan variety (FPLD), is an autosomal dominant disorder due to missense mutations in the lamin A/C gene and is characterized by gradual loss of subcutaneous fat from the extremities and trunk, fat accumulation in the head, neck and intra-abdominal areas, insulin resistance and its metabolic complications. We studied autopsy findings in two patients with FPLD to determine fat distribution and organ involvement. RESULTS: Patient 1, a 66-year-old woman with the R482Q mutation, had diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and coronary artery disease and died suddenly. autopsy confirmed the typical body fat distribution and further revealed excess fat deposition in the subpectoral regions extending to the axillae, in the axillary lymph nodes and in the retroperitoneum. Atherosclerotic vascular disease including old infarcts of the myocardium, temporal lobe and kidneys were noted. Severe amyloidosis of the pancreatic islets and grouped muscle atrophy of the quadriceps and diaphragmatic muscles were present. Patient 2, a 29-year-old woman belonging to a pedigree with the R62G mutation, died of hyperlipidaemia-induced acute pancreatitis. autopsy of patient 2 revealed extensive pancreatitis, hepatic steatosis and polycystic ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms typical body fat distribution and describes new sites of excess fat deposition. Our data show predisposition to atherosclerosis and polycystic ovaries and suggest that pancreatic amyloidosis may underlie development of hyperglycaemia in FPLD patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.49237394660713keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/28. Late cardiovascular and pulmonary complications of therapy in Hodgkin's disease: report of three unusual cases, with a review of relevant literature.With the advent of modern therapeutic approaches, even patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease have high cure rates today. Therefore, more attention is gradually being focused upon the late complications of chemotherapy and irradiation, appearing long after the patient is in remission and thought to be cured. In this report, we review the incidence and presentation of some of the cardiovascular and pulmonary complications which may appear later in the course of the disease. Cardiovascular mishaps reviewed include pericardial manifestations, conduction abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, and premature coronary artery disease. Pulmonary complications discussed are lung fibrosis, spontaneous pneumothorax, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, and hyperlucent lung. Three instructive cases from our recent experience, are also presented. One fatal case was due to cardiac failure because of radiation-induced pericarditis and coronary artery disease. Another patient with an almost fatal complication required lung transplantation because of severe bilateral radiation fibrosis of the lung and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. The third instance was also life-threatening in nature, with radiation-induced arterial changes in the major arteries of the chest and neck, resulting in recurrent cerebral and ophthalmic thromboembolic disease. It is suggested that potentially severe cardiopulmonary complications be considered during the planning of the initial and subsequent management of patients with Hodgkin's disease, particularly in an era employing autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as part of therapy in some cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.98474789321426keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/28. Multisection CT evaluation of the reoperative cardiac surgery patient.Development of electrocardiographically (ECG) gated multisection computed tomography (CT) has had a significant, immediate impact in cardiovascular imaging. The capabilities of this new technique have become particularly important in the preoperative assessment of the cardiac surgery patient. Cardiac surgery in the 21st century has become increasingly complex because of an aging population needing multiple procedures. As patients live longer, reoperative surgery is often needed, requiring further complicated intervention. Recent research in cardiac surgery patients has linked atherosclerotic disease of the aorta to the risk of perioperative stroke. Multisection CT has been effective in evaluations of the atherosclerotic aorta, minimizing perioperative stroke risk in these often elderly patients. By using the capabilities of ECG gating, improved CT imaging of the aortic valve has helped guide the surgeon in decisions of aortic valve replacement. Injury to preexisting coronary artery grafts is associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. The superior imaging features of ECG-gated CT have enabled preoperative identification of coronary grafts, preventing injury to these important structures during reoperative surgery. Assessment of normal anatomic structures is also important in preoperative planning. Proximity of the aorta, pulmonary artery, and native coronary arteries to the sternum is an important potential cause of morbidity and mortality, and it can be preoperatively assessed with multisection CT. The advancement of ECG gating has enabled accurate assessment of the coronary arteries, which is particularly important in the preoperative identification of congenital and acquired abnormalities. With continued advances, ECG-gated multisection CT will play an increasingly important role in the evaluation of patients with cardiovascular disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.98474789321426keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/28. torsades de pointes associated with fluoroquinolones: importance of concomitant risk factors.The fluoroquinolone antibiotics sparfloxacin, grepafloxacin, gatifloxacin, and levofloxacin have been reported to cause torsades de pointes. Pre-existing risk factors increase vulnerability to this life-threatening arrhythmia. In a 65-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteomyelitis, QTc interval prolongation (605 ms) and torsades de pointes developed after the initiation of levofloxacin, 250 mg intravenously once daily. The patient was hypokalemic and mildly hypomagnesemic before the initiation of levofloxacin and at the time of occurrence of torsades de pointes. The QTc interval decreased to 399 ms within hours of discontinuation of the levofloxacin, after which she had no further arrhythmias. In this and the majority of other published cases of fluoroquinolone-associated torsades de pointes, patients had at least 1 risk factor for the arrhythmia, and most had multiple risk factors. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics should be avoided whenever possible in patients with pre-existing risk factors for torsades de pointes.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.49237394660713keywords = artery (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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