A case series of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling with desmopressin in evaluation of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating the etiology of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (CS) has remained challenging due to the limited accuracy of noninvasive assays. Nowadays, bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the gold standard method in the diagnostic work-up of complex CS. However, this method is as yet far from being widespread. The limited utility of this method could be due to many factors such as limited availability of an experienced interventionist, limited availability of CRH, and cost of the procedure. So far, very few studies have been conducted using desmopressin instead of CRH. In this study, we report the use of BIPSS with desmopressin as a diagnostic tool in a series of patients with suspected Cushing's disease (CD) and equivocal imaging in a tertiary referral center in Iran. METHODS: A total of 13 patients with ACTH-dependent CS and no significant lesions in their pituitary MRI participated in this retrospective case series. All patients underwent BIPSS with desmopressin, and, following centralization of CS, transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) was carried out and diagnosis of CD was confirmed using standard methods. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients with confirmed CD (by pathology or biochemical response after surgery), eight (61.5%) were female, with a median age of 32 years (IQR: 26-41). The median duration of disease was 24 months (IQR: 11-48). During BIPSS, all patients had a central-to-peripheral gradient greater than 2 under basal conditions. This central-to-peripheral gradient did not increase to > 3 after desmopressin administration in two of these patients. Based on the gradient after BIPSS, the sensitivity of this modality in the diagnosis of CD was 100%. Eight of the 13 patients had right lateralization in both BIPSS and TSS; therefore, the accuracy rate of lateralization by BIPSS was 61.5%. No complications occurred after BIPSS, the exception being the development of groin hematoma in one patient. CONCLUSION: No significant benefits of adding desmopressin to BIPSS were observed. The sensitivity of BIPSS in the diagnosis of CD was high, whereas it has moderate accuracy in tumor lateralization.

Dual antiplatelet therapy in a patient with simultaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiography (ECG) changes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are well described. However, concurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and SAH are rarely reported, and its management remains a dilemma. We report a patient with traumatic SAH concurrent with acute MI that managed successfully by endovascular intervention and dual antiplatelet therapy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a complaint of severe headache. Diffuse SAH, with a Hunt and Hess score of 5, was noticed. ECG showed ST elevation in anterior leads, and cardiac troponin became positive. On brain computed tomography angiogram, a 6 mm anterior communicating artery aneurysm was seen. Considering the possibility of MI and SAH simultaneously, endovascular obliteration of the aneurysm was done, and then, the patient received dual antiplatelet medications until coronary angiography was done. Coronary angiography revealed normal epicardial coronary arteries. The patient was discharged with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 and was visited 2 months after discharge without any new episodes of intracranial hemorrhage with a modified Rankin scale score of 2. CONCLUSION: Cerebral aneurysm coiling could be considered as the first choice of treatment in the case of acute MI with hemodynamic stability, before carrying out cardiac endovascular intervention or antiplatelet medication to reduce the risk of rebleeding from a brain aneurysm.

Complications of angioplasty and stenting of cervicocerebral arteries in Iran.

Angioplasty and stenting of the cervicocerebral arteries is a novel treatment for atherosclerotic stenosis, which has periprocedural complications. Data were collected prospectively from 2007 to 2009 in a multicenter cohort of patients undergoing interventions for cervicocerebral stenosis. Retrospective assessment of the 2003-2006 archives of the same interventionists and a review of their published work is the second part of this national survey. In 592 extracranial internal carotid artery angioplasty and stenting procedures in 581 patients (73% male; mean age, 63.4 + or - 7 years), transient ischemic attack, stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and death occurred in 1.7%, 1.7%, 0.34%, and 1.52%, respectively. In 114 extracranial vertebral artery angioplasty and stenting procedures in 110 patients (68% male; mean age, 65.3 + or - 6 years), transient ischemic attack and stroke each developed in 1 (0.92%) patient, but there was no intracerebral hemorrhage or death. In 70 intracranial angioplasty and stenting procedures in 67 patients (76% male; mean age, 68.5 + or - 8 years), transient ischemic attack, stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and death were observed in 1.4%, 8.6%, 1.4%, and 2.9%, respectively. The frequency of periprocedural complications in angioplasty and stenting of cervicocerebral arteries by our neurointerventionists was similar to that in developed countries.