Clinical prediction model for primary aldosteronism subtyping and special focus on adrenal volumetric assessment.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to develop a prediction model based on a simple score with clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings for the subtype diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA). The contribution of adrenal volumetric assessment to PA subtyping was also investigated. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with adequate cannulation in adrenal venous sampling (AVS) were included. Laboratory data, the saline infusion test (SIT), and the AVS results of patients with PA were retrospectively evaluated. Volumetric assessment was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the ratio of adrenal volumes was calculated after adjusting for gender- and side-specific mean reference values of both adrenal glands. RESULTS: The AVS was consistent with unilateral PA in 49% and bilateral in 51% of the patients. Hypertension as a reason for work-up, the highest aldosterone/lowest potassium value higher than 12, the percentage of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) reduction after SIT by equal or less than 43.5%, the use of oral potassium replacement, unilateral disease at pre-AVS imaging, and a ratio of adjusted adrenal volumes equal to or below 1.7 were indicative of unilateral disease in univariate logistic regression analysis concerning the distinction of PA subtyping (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also revealed that adrenal volumetric assessment has an impact on PA subtyping (p < 0.05). In the prediction model, when each of the six parameters that were significant in the univariate logistic regression analysis was assigned one point, < 4 predicted bilateral PA, whereas ≥ 4 predicted unilateral PA (AUC:0.92, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This prediction model before AVS may serve as a convenient and practical approach, while an adjusted adrenal volumetric assessment can make a positive contribution to PA subtyping.

Endovascular recanalization of infra-popliteal TASC C and TASC D lesions in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to (1) assess the technical success and limb salvage rates of endovascular therapy in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and infra-popliteal Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C/D lesions according to the updated 2015 TASC II classification and (2) to present our institutional experience. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted on patients with TASC C/D CLTI who underwent endovascular treatment between 2012 and 2017. The follow-up protocol consisted of Doppler ultrasound conduction every 3 months for the first year unless patients showed symptoms of CLTI. Patients with at least 1 year of follow-up data were included in the study, and if applicable their 3-year results were evaluated in terms of primary patency, absence of amputation, amputation-free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 248 patients and 287 limbs (238 TASC D lesions and 49 TASC C lesions) were treated via infra-popliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The overall technical success was 87%, the primary patency rate was 41.5% in the first year, and the freedom from amputation rates were 80.8% in 1 year and 67.7% in 3 years. CONCLUSION: In patients with infra-popliteal arterial occlusive diseases, endovascular treatment methods demonstrate a high rate of technical success and favorable outcomes in limb preservation.

Outcomes of endovascular treatment of thoracic aorta pathologies: 10-year single-center results.

PURPOSE Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a safe and effective treatment method for a variety of thoracic aortic pathologies. We aimed to investigate the mortality and complication outcomes and associated factors of TEVAR treatment in Turkey. METHODS In this single-centered retrospective study, patients with thoracic aorta pathologies treated with TEVAR at Gazi University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, between January 2009 and January 2020 were included. Perioperative, early, and late mortality, complications, and technical success were the outcomes. RESULTS The sample comprised 58 patients with 68 TEVAR interventions. Eleven (16.2%) patients were female, the mean age was 60.1 ± 13.4 years. Emergent TEVAR was required in 20.7% of the patients. The main indications of TEVAR were intact descending aorta aneurysms in 37.9% of the sample, 31.0% Stanford type-B dissection, and 12.1% traumatic transections. The technical success rate of primary and secondary interventions was 98.3% and 100%, respectively. The mortality rate in the first 30 days was 8.6%. Seventeen (29.3%) cases had at least 1 complication related to TEVAR treatment. The most common complication was type-1A endoleak (10.3%). Having acute symptoms, stroke, and acute renal failure were significantly associated with mortality (P=.020, .049, and .009, respectively). CONCLUSION This study reported the outcomes of TEVAR treatment from a tertiary medical center in Turkey over a decade. Patients presenting with acute symptoms and who developed stroke and acute renal failure after the procedure should be carefully followed up as these factors were found to be associated with mortality.

The position of transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads and yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Consensus statements from a Delphi-method expert panel in Turkey.

PURPOSE: Clinical studies conducted in different geographic regions using different methods to compare transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) have demonstrated discordant results. Meta-analyses in this field indicate comparable overall survival (OS) with TACE and TARE, while reporting a longer time to progression and a higher downstaging effect with TARE treatment. In terms of isolated procedure costs, treatment with TARE is 2 to 3 times more, and in some countries even more, expensive than TACE. However, relevant literature indicates that TARE is more advantageous compared to TACE regarding the need for repeat procedures, costs of complication management, total hospital stay and quality of life. Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients as well as the shortcomings of clinical classifications, randomized clinical trials and cost-effectiveness studies make it difficult to choose between treatment alternatives in this field. As in other countries, these challenges lead to differences in treatment choice across different centers in Turkey. METHODS: The present expert panel used two round modified Delphi method to investigate the resources and clinical parameters referenced while selecting patients for drug-eluting beads (DEB)-TACE and TARE treatment modalities in Turkish clinical practice. The cost-effectiveness parameters and comparisons of these treatments have also been evaluated at a prediction level. RESULTS: The panelists stated that they most commonly use the BCLC staging system for the management of HCC patients in Turkey. However, they did not find any of the staging systems or treatment guidelines sufficient enough for their clinical practice in terms of covering the down-staging intent of treatments. Since living donor transplant preference is higher in Turkey than the rest of the Western countries, down-staging treatments are thought to be more prioritized in Turkey than that in other Western countries. The panelists reached a consensus that TARE may provide improved OS and reduce the number of repeat procedures compared to DEB-TACE in intermediate-stage patients with a single tumor spanning a diameter above 5 cm who experience recurrence after previous treatment with TACE and most TACE-naïve patient groups in intermediate stage. CONCLUSION: Based on the consensus on OS and the number of procedures, the panelists assumed that TARE would be more cost-effective than DEB-TACE in most groups of TACE-naïve patients in intermediate stage and in those with a single tumor spanning a diameter above 5 cm. It was also stated that the predicted cost-effectiveness advantage of TARE could be more pronounced in patients with a tumor diameter greater than 7 cm.

Pre- and Post-stenting Cerebral Blood Flow Velocities in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the hemodynamic effects of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in patients with carotid artery stenosis, before, 3 d, and 3 months after the procedure using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). METHODS: The study included 36 patients with atheromatous carotid artery stenosis. Cerebral computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in every patient, and carotid stenosis was evaluated using duplex sonography, CT, and MRI angiography before the procedure. To obtain baseline values, the CBFV was evaluated 1 d before CAS. Follow-up TCD evaluations were performed 3 d and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The median degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis in the participants was 90% (range 50%-99%). The median CBFV at the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was significantly lower on the ipsilateral side than on the contralateral side before stenting; however, there were no significant differences in CBFV in the ipsi and contralateral middle cerebral artery (MCA). The median CBFV in the ipsilateral MCA increased significantly 3 d after the procedure and remained higher than the basal values after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: We observed significant increases in the median CBFV and pulsatility index (PI) in the MCA bilaterally, especially on the stented side, measured 3 d and 3 months after stenting in patients with severe ICA stenosis.

Dynamic Volume Perfusion CT of the Foot in Critical Limb Ischemia: Response to Percutaneous Revascularization.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the reproducibility and validity of quantitative perfusion parameters derived from dynamic volume perfusion CT in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and to evaluate perfusion parameter changes before and after endovascular revascularization. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Patients with CLI referred for unilateral extremity endovascular arterial recanalization were enrolled in this study. CT examinations obtained 1-3 days before the procedure and then within 1 week after the treatment were evaluated at two reading sessions. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and time to peak (TTP) were measured on color-coded maps and compared statistically. Intraobserver agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS. Endovascular treatment was technically successful for all 16 patients. The posttreatment BF and BV showed a statistically significant increase in both dermal and muscle areas (p < 0.05). The posttreatment TTP shortened at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05). In the 3-month clinical follow-up period, the limb salvage rate was 81% and the percentage change in BF and BV of patients with poor response to treatment had no statistically significant increase after treatment, consistent with the clinical assessment. The percentage change in BF and BV correlated well with the improvement of the clinical condition (r = 0.673-0.901). ICC values showed excellent agreement in the range of 0.95-0.98. CONCLUSION. As a reproducible method, dynamic volume perfusion CT of the foot may enable quantitative evaluation of the perfusion of soft tissues and also provide a novel approach to assessing response to endovascular recanalization in CLI.

Treatment-related alterations of imaging findings in osteoid osteoma after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to report the long-term outcomes of osteoid osteoma patients and to determine CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging characteristics of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment related changes of osteoid osteoma between follow-up periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients (seven female, 23 male) who underwent CT-guided RFA of osteoid osteoma were included. Follow-up imaging examinations were divided into two subgroups; first (1-3 months) and second (> 6 months) periods. Nidus size, calcification, cortical thickening, maximum signal intensity (SImax), time of SImax (Tmax), slope of signal intensity-time (SIT) curves were noted. CT and dynamic MR imaging findings were compared between follow-up periods. RESULTS: Clinical success rate was 100%. The mean of OO nidi size was 5.85 ± 1.98 mm before treatment. There was a significant difference for OO nidi sizes between pretreatment and second follow-up period examinations (p = 0.002). SImax and slope of SIT curves of all patients (100%) showed decrease on follow-up MRIs. There was a significant decrease for SImax values between pretreatment and second follow-up period. There was a significant decrease for slope of SIT curves between pretreatment and both follow-up periods. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is an effective and safe treatment choice for osteoid osteomas. On follow-up imaging, slope of SIT curve and Tmax have the most important positive predictive value for long-term outcomes and single dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI within first 3 months after treatment may be sufficient for symptom-free patients.

Endovascular Treatment for Near Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery : 30-Day Outcome and Long-Term Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: The treatment strategy and the correct incidence of near occlusion (NO) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is still controversial. In routine radiological imaging NO can easily be misdiagnosed as complete occlusion and there is no consensus on the standard treatment strategy. PURPOSE: To present our perioperative and long-term follow-up results of ICA NO patients treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2004-2014 a total of 182 patients with ICA NO were evaluated for CAS. The study included 132 male (72.5 %) and 50 female (27.5 %) patients with a mean age of 70.2 years. Patients underwent a clinical neurological evaluation and radiological imaging of the carotid arteries before the CAS procedure. Of the patients 80 (44 %) were asymptomatic. The median clinical and carotid Doppler ultrasound (DUS) follow-up period was 64 months (range 18-124 months). RESULTS: In 182 patients CAS were performed, 4 patients (2.2 %) developed minor stroke, 2 patients (1.1 %) developed myocardial infarction but no major stroke or death occurred in the following 30-day period. Asymptomatic restenosis was detected in seven patients (3.8 %) in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: With sufficient neurological evaluation during pretreatment and posttreatment periods and when the procedure is performed with technologically developed products by an experienced interventional team, CAS is beneficial in patients with ICA NO.

Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Anterior Circulation Aneurysms with Flow Diverters: A Single Centre Experience with mid and long-term results.

AIM: We report our experience with flow diverter devices in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms arising from anterior circulation with mid and long-term follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 78 aneurysms in 61 patients (range 25-81 years, 13 male, 48 female) were treated with flow diverter devices. 40 (51,3%) aneurysms were treated with pipeline embolization device (PED), 24 (30,8%) aneurysms were treated with SILK stent, 12(15,4%) aneurysms were treated with flow redirection endoluminal device (FRED) and two aneurysms were treated with P64 Flow Modulation Device (P64). Angiographic follow-up data at six month and one yea were recorded and the occlusion degrees of aneurysms were evaluated according to the scale which was formed by Kamran et al. RESULTS: At six month follow-up, complete occlusion (grade 4) rate was 60,8% and at one year increased to 74,3%. Statistical analysis revealed significant difference (p=0,002) between six month and one year follow-up results but there was no significant association (p=0,531, p=1,000) between aneurysm occlusion rate and aneurysm diameter. Two patient (3,2%) died due to hemorrhagic complication. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of intracranial anterior circulation aneurysms with flow diverters is a safe and effective treatment option. A high rate of stable occlusion is achieved at long term follow-up.

The New Double-Layer Micromesh Stent (Roadsaver®): Use in Endovascular Treatment of Supraaortic and Visceral Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to present our preliminary experience with the Roadsaver® double-layer micromesh (DLM) stent in the endovascular treatment of supra-aortic and visceral aneurysms and to utilize the flow-diverting effect of this new design in the treatment of these aneurysms. METHODS: DLM stent (Roadsaver®, Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) was used in five patients (median age 61.8 years; three men) for treating arterial aneurysms (one common carotid artery, one vertebral artery V1 segment, one superior mesenteric artery, and two renal artery aneurysms). RESULTS: All stents were successfully deployed. Follow-up imaging with conventional catheter angiography or computed tomography showed successful treatment of all aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: The new DLM stent appears to be promising for the treatment of supra-aortic and visceral aneurysms.

Unfused or twig-like middle cerebral artery.

INTRODUCTION: The knowledge of anatomic variations of the cerebral arterial circulation may be important to decide on the safest surgical or endovascular treatment method. Variations in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory seems to be less frequent than the other intracranial arteries. During the embryonic stage the primitive MCA is hypothesized to be made up of arterial twigs and these twigs will generate the definitive MCA at the end of the development stage. As in our cases, an early interruption in this period will prevent the evolution of MCA normally and a plexiform arterial network will create the M1 segment of MCA which is the so-called extremely rare unfused or twig-like (Uf/Tw) MCA variation. Our aim is to define and evaluate the angiographical features of Uf/Tw MCA. METHODS: The diagnosis of Uf/Tw MCA was evaluated in a total of 4855 diagnostic cerebral catheter angiograms, retrospectively. The coexisting intracranial pathologies were also interpreted with former radiological examinations. A review of the literature is provided. RESULTS: A total of six cases of Uf/Tw MCA was identified on angiograms accompanying ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and contralateral ICA supraclinoid segment aneurysm in one case, and cingulate gyrus AVM in the other. In two different cases, CT or MRI examinations revealed coexisting subarachnoid hemorrhage and misdiagnosis of forniceal AVM in one case, and temporal arachnoid cyst and parenchymal hematoma in the other. CONCLUSION: Lack of data and knowledge about the Uf/Tw MCA variation may cause misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment attempts.

Misplaced central venous catheter in the vertebral artery: endovascular treatment of foreseen hemorrhage during catheter withdrawal.

PURPOSE: We report on the endovascular management of hemorrhage with stent-graft due to a misplaced central venous catheter in the vertebral artery (VA) during percutaneous internal jugular vein catheterization in a child. METHODS: A 16-year-old female was presented with the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever related chronic renal insufficiency. An attempt was made to place a central venous catheter via the right internal jugular vein without image guidance and the patient experienced dyspnea and pain at the catheter insertion site. Computerized tomography (CT) showed hemorrhage in the cervical region and upper mediastinum, also reformatted images showed that the catheter was passing through the proximal part of the VA and terminating in the right mediastinum. The catheter was removed during manual compression under angio-flouroscopic monitoring and ongoing extravasation was observed. A stent-graft was placed to the bleeding site of the VA. RESULTS: Angiography immediately after the stent-graft placement revealed complete disappearance of extravasation and patency of vertebral and subclavian arteries. CONCLUSION: Central venous catheterization (CVC) is not a risk-free procedure and arterial injuries are in a wide spectrum from a simple puncture to rupture of the artery. Inadvertent VA cannulation is a rare and serious complication necessitating prompt diagnosis and early treatment. If an arterial injury with a large-caliber catheter occurs, endovascular treatment with stent-graft seems to be a safe and effective option in terms of achieving hemostasis and preserving arterial patency. Recent findings suggest that endovascular management of inadvertent cervical arterial injury secondary to CVC seems to be the safest strategy.

Quantitative and qualitative comparison of standard-dose and low-dose pediatric head computed tomography: a retrospective study assessing the effect of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to assess the effect of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) on pediatric head computed tomography (CT) examinations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 305 pediatric head CT examinations. The study population consisted of standard dose (STD, n = 152) examinations reconstructed with filtered back projection and low dose (LD, n = 153) examinations reconstructed with 30% (LD30) and 0% (LD0) ASIR. We compared groups by means of radiation dose, noise measures, and visual grading. Student t test, 1-way analysis of variance test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The dose in the LD30 group was significantly lower (29%) than that in the STD group (P < 0.001). The noise in the white matter (P < 0.001), SNR (P < 0.001), and subjective image noise (P = 0.044) was significantly better in the STD group than those in the LD30 group. There was no significant difference between LD30 and STD groups in the sharpness (P = 0.141), diagnostic acceptability (P = 0.079), and artifacts (P = 0.750) and contrast-to-noise ratio (P = 0.718). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we found that a blend of 30% ASIR in a 16-slice multidetector CT produces diagnostically acceptable pediatric head CT examinations with a 29% less dose.

Role of vena cava inferior filter on neurosurgical deep venous thrombosis.

AIM: The patients who undergo neurosurgical procedures are at high risk for perioperative deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Pharmacological prophylaxis with mechanic prophylaxis is a safe and effective way of preventing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism in neurosurgery. However, pharmacological prophylaxis may increase the risk of hemorrhage after cranial or spinal operations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with vena cava inferior filter were retrospectively examined between 2003 and 2010. RESULTS: Approximately 1600 patients per year are operated in our clinic. Deep vein thrombosis incidence is % 1.2 - 2.3 in our department. Vena cava inferior filter is used on 13 patients who operated for various diagnoses, during the 2003 - 2010 period. None of these patients had new pulmonary thromboembolism after inserting vena cava inferior filter but two of them died cause of initial respiratory distress. CONCLUSION: We think that vena cava inferior filter in is safe and effective method for pulmonary thromboembolism prophylaxis, especially for patients with high bleeding risk and who cannot be anticoagulated. Further prospective studies with larger series are needed for evaluating long term complications and benefits.

Interventional radiological retrieval of embolized vascular access device fragments.

PURPOSE: Vascular access device fragment embolization is a relatively rare but potentially serious complication. The purpose of this study was to report our experience with endovascular retrieval of embolized vascular access device fragments by interventional radiological means. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with a vascular access device fragment embolism were treated between 2004 and 2010. Attempted retrieval from the vascular bed was performed for five port catheter fragments, two temporary catheter fragments and three guide wires. The demographic data, underlying disease of the patients, type of inserted catheters, interval between implantation and discovery of embolism, interval between discovery of embolization and retrieval and localization and length of the embolized fragments were identified from the patient charts. RESULTS: In nine of the ten patients (90%), radiologic intervention retrieval of the embolized vascular access device fragments was successful. The reasons for intravascular fragment embolism consisted of rupture at the connection site of the chamber or the external hub and the intravascular catheter (n=4), pinchoff syndrome (n=3), operator inexperience (n=3). Embolized catheter fragments or guide wires were retrieved under fluoroscopy by a gooseneck snare. The postprocedural course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: The radiological retrieval of embolized vascular access device fragments is the preferred method, and it has a high success rate. Considering the potential for devastating complications, patients should be referred to interventional radiology, and the embolized catheters should be retrieved using interventional endovascular techniques.

Effect of a chloride channel inhibitor, 5-nitro-2- (3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate, on endothelin-1 induced vasoconstriction in rabbit basilar artery.

AIM: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cerebral vasospasm. Chloride (Cl-) channels exist in vascular smooth muscle and activation of these channels leads to depolarization and contraction. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), a Cl- channel antagonist, on the ET-1-induced cerebral vasospasm in rabbit basilar artery and thus investigate the contribution of Cl- channels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty rabbits were divided into five groups and received intra-arterial injection of isotonic saline (Group I, n=6), ET-1 (group II, n=6), ET-1 plus NPPB (Group III, n=6), dimethylsulfate (DMSO4) (Group IV, n = 6) and NPPB (Group V, n=6). Pre and post injection basilar artery diameters were measured in each group and transmission electron microscopic investigations on basilar arteries were performed. RESULTS: The mean pre-injection and post-injection vessel diameters were 0.8833 mm and 0.7000 mm in ET-1 group, 0.6833 mm and 0.8500 mm in ET-1 + NPPB group. NPPB administered prior to ET-1 injection, prevented the ET-1-induced vasoconstriction. Additionally, NPPB prevents the ET-1 induced changes in vessel wall and neurons in the brain stem. CONCLUSION: The results of this study add further insights to our armamentarium against cerebral vasospasm.

Congenitally severe tortuous circumflex artery fistula draining into the coronary sinus: transcatheter closure with Guglielmi detachable coils via different delivery system.

Coronary artery fistulae are very rare congenital anomalies which constitute 0.2-0.4% of all congenital heart diseases. The right chambers of the heart are the most frequent communication site of the coronary fistulae and may cause hemodynamic impairment in the coronary circulation. The fistulae arise frequently from right coronary and left anterior descending arteries. Fistulae from left circumflex artery are very rare. We report a case in which transcatheter embolization was performed with 3-mm Guglielmi detachable coils in a young adult with a rare type of congenital fistula originating from the circumflex artery and draining into the coronary sinus.

Angiotensinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene polymorphism in relation to renovascular disease.

The present study was designed to evaluate angiotensinogen (AGT) M235T and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (4G/5G) polymorphisims in relation to the occurrence of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and recurrent stenosis. In this study, 30 patients were enrolled after angiographic demonstration of ARAS; 100 healthy subjects for AGT polymorphism and 80 healthy subjects for PAI-1 polymorphism were considered the control group. The patients were followed for a mean 46.1 +/- 9.2 months. The patients had significantly higher frequencies of the MT genotype and the T allele than control group (chi(2) = 18.2, p < 0.001 and chi(2) = 11.5 p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the PAI-1 genotype and allele findings when the data for all patients were compared with that for the controls (chi(2)= 2.45, p = 0.29 and chi(2) = 0.019, p = 0.89). There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele findings for the patients with and without restenosis (p > 0.05). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was higher in the patients with restenosis than in the patients without restenosis (7.694 +/- 0.39 mg/L and 1.56 +/- 1.08 mg/L) (p = 0.001). Our results suggest that the M235T MT genotype and T allele might be associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. The CRP level might be an independent predictor for recurrent stenosis.

Postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistula: endovascular treatment with N-butyl-cyanoacrylate embolization.

We report a case of an iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in a 67-year-old man presenting with right femoral bruit on the day after sheath removal for cardiac catheterization. This was successfully treated with embolization using N-butyl-cynoacrylate (NBCA) through a coaxial microcatheter. Transcatheter embolization of iatrogenic femoral AVFs with NBCA in selected cases may be a safe and effective treatment in the presence of long fistula tracts. It is then easy to perform in experienced hands and relatively inexpensive.