Acute Arterial Thrombosis in Leg Associated with Hyperhomocysteinemia

Herein, two cases of acute arterial thrombosis associated with hyperhomocysteinemia are reported. A 34-year old male patient without heart disease, was brought to hospital with an acute ischemic limb due to thromboses of both superficial femoral arteries, where no atherosclerotic lesions were found. Subsequent investigation revealed that the patient had hyperhomocysteinemia, with a low folic acid level. Catheter directed thrombolysis was attempted, but failed, so bypass surgery was performed. After revascularization, anticoagulation therapy and folate supplementation were initiated. His plasma homocysteine level returned to normal, and there has been no recurrence during the 48 month follow up periods. The other case was a 51-year man with an acute left ilio-femoro-popliteal artery occlusion, who had also shown hyperhomocysteinemia, with a low folic acid level. There was nothing abnormal from his medical records, and showed normal findings in his transesophageal echocardiogram. In a serologic hypercoagulability test, everything was normal, with the exception of an increased homocysteine level. After a successful thrombectomy with a Fogarty catheter, folate supplementation was administered until his homocysteine level returned to normal. In both patients, the heterozygous mutation of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), C677T (alanine to valine substitution), was detected.

Clinical Results of Lower Extremity Trauma Accompanied with Popliteal Artery Injury

PURPOSE: Although popliteal artery injuries are uncommon, the consequent lack of management protocols may contribute to the high level of outcome morbidity. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the records of popliteal artery trauma treated at our institution in the past 5 years. RESULT: In 15 patients [male 13, female 2, median age 45.9 (15-73)] there were 13 cases of blunt trauma, mainly motorcycle accident. Most patients presented with severe signs of ischemia when they arrived at the emergency unit. Most commonly skeletal injury was accompanied (fracture 13, nerve injury 7). Some delays occurred between injury and treatment in every cases. Bypass using the contralateral long saphenous vein was the predominant procedure for arterial injury. Our limb salvage rate was 66.7% (10/15), but all patients needed more than two additive operations, and finally had persistent neurologic disability. CONCLUSION: Popliteal artery injury, especially in Korean urban society, was mainly caused by blunt trauma from traffic accidents and the results remain challenging.