VASA. Zeitschrift für Gefässkrankheiten
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Design and rationale of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study for autologous bone marrow cell transplantation in critical limb ischemia: the BONe Marrow Outcomes Trial in Critical Limb Ischemia (BONMOT-CLI).
Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the end-stage of peripheral artery disease. Only about two thirds of patients with CLI can be revascularised, one third progresses to leg amputation with high associated morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic angiogenesis with bone marrow cells has shown promising improvement in less severe stages of peripheral ischemia. Our study evaluates the therapeutic value of bone marrow cell induced angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in severe, limb-threatening ischemia. ⋯ The results of this first randomized placebo-controlled trial for autologous bone marrow cell therapy in CLI will clarify the value of this new therapeutic modality in a patient population with no other alternatives except major amputation.
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Marfan's syndrome is an inherited connective tissue disorder that affects many organ systems and has widespread phenotype expression. The diagnosis is therefore made by phenotype assessment. Dural ectasia has been classified as a major diagnostic criterium with a prevalence of over 90% in patients with Marfan's syndrome. The objective of this study determine the feasibility of performing CT angiographic examination of aorta and large vessels for dural ectasia grading in a single CT exam of patients with Marfan's syndrome. ⋯ Whole body CT examination is the perfect tool for both aorta and spinal canal evaluation. Despite differences in spinal canal grading methods in all of our patients significant changes of the spinal canal in the lumbosacral region were detected. Dural ectasia is easy to detect and quantify and may therefore be used as a sensitive and specific sign of Marfan's syndrome.
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Case Reports
Acute ischaemia of the leg following accidental intra-arterial injection of dissolved flunitrazepam tablets.
Accidental intra-arterial injection of drugs is a sporadic complication in i.v. drug addicts. A 22-year-old drug-abuser injected flunitrazepam tablets dissolved in tap water into her left femoral artery and presented with clinical signs of acute ischaemia of the left leg. ⋯ Selective arterial catheter angiography showed an acute occlusion of the posterior tibial artery. Combination therapy with i.a. urokinase, i.a. prostaglandines and i.v. anticoagulation resulted in re-opening of the obstructed distal artery and complete cessation of symptoms.
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Penetrating trauma is the primary cause of upper extremity vascular injury almost in 95% of cases. Blunt trauma due to traffic or industrial accidents and falls account for the remaining 5% to 10%. ⋯ But its anatomical proximity to the humeral head makes it quite vulnerable to blunt trauma during shoulder injury. Herein we report two cases of axillary artery injury after proximal humerus fracture, discussing their diagnosis and management.
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Thrombophilic defects have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis, fetal loss, and gestational complications. The knowledge about the clinical relevance of thrombophilic defects is increasing, and evidence-based indications for thrombophilia screening are therefore discussed in this review. Selective thrombophilia screening based on previous personal and/or family history of venous thromboembolism is more cost-effective than universal screening in all patient groups evaluated. ⋯ Antithrombotic drugs like UFH, LMWH or low-dose aspirin may have a potential therapeutic benefit in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and thrombophilia, but placebo-controlled, multicenter trials are urgently needed to clarify this issue. Although a supra-additive effect for the risk of venous thrombosis is observed between oral contraceptives and some thrombophilias, the absolute incidence of venous thromboembolism is low in premenopausal women and mass screening strategies are therefore unlikely to be effective. While antiphospholipid antibodies are known to be associated with arterial thrombosis, screening for heritable thrombophilias is not useful in arterial thrombosis, although subgroup analysis indicates that they may play a role particularly in young patients and children.