Exploring Causal Relationships between Circulating Inflammatory Proteins and Thromboangiitis Obliterans: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a vascular condition characterized by poor prognosis and an unclear etiology. This study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal impact of circulating inflammatory proteins on TAO. METHODS: In this MR analysis, summary statistics from a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 91 inflammation-related proteins were integrated with independently sourced TAO data from the FinnGen consortium's R10 release. Methods such as inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger regression, weighted median approaches, MR-PRESSO, and multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis were utilized. RESULTS: The analysis indicated an association between higher levels of C-C motif chemokine 4 and a reduced risk of TAO, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.67; p = 1.4 × 10-4; adjusted p = 0.013). Similarly, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor exhibited a suggestively protective effect against TAO (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22-0.81; p = 0.010; adjusted p = 0.218). Conversely, higher levels of C-C motif chemokine 23 were suggestively linked to an increased risk of TAO (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.21-2.93; p = 0.005; adjusted p = 0.218). The sensitivity analysis and MVMR revealed no evidence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy. CONCLUSION: This study identifies C-C motif chemokine 4 and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor as potential protective biomarkers for TAO, whereas C-C motif chemokine 23 emerges as a suggestive risk marker. These findings elucidate potential causal relationships and highlight the significance of these proteins in the pathogenesis and prospective therapeutic strategies for TAO.

Endovascular recanalization for pediatric hypertension secondary to total renal artery occlusion.

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) for pediatric renovascular hypertension (RVH) secondary to total renal artery occlusion (RAO). METHODS: From 2011 to 2021, 13 pediatric patients with RVH confirmed with 14 occluded renal artery lesions were reviewed. The mean age was11.2 years (range 4 to 16). Nine lesions involved main artery occlusion, while five lesions featured branch occlusion. Blood Pressure Ratio (BPR) was defined as the ratio of the actual BP value to the 95th percentile value adjusted for age, gender, and height. RESULTS: PTRA was performed on nine patients (9/13, 69%). Technical success was achieved in five patients (5/9, 56%), with stent placement in two children (2/9, 22%). During the 12-month follow-up, restenosis was identified in two stent-receiving patients at the 12-month follow-up visit (2/9, 22%). Mean systolic BPR decreased from 1.20 ± 0.07 to 0.96 ± 0.06 (p = 0.003), mean diastolic BPR decreased from 1.19 ± 0.07 to 0.95±0.08 (p = 0.005) and the number of required medications decreased from 3.8 ± 0.8 to 2.4 ± 0.9 (p = 0.052) following PTRA. Subsequent to PTRA, the mean GFR of the occluded kidney improved from 19.5 ± 12.3 mL/ min to 36.3 ± 10.8 mL/ min (p = 0.007) and the mean longitudinal dimension of the affected kidneys significantly increased from 8.2 ± 1.5 cm to 9.2 ± 1.7 cm (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment is feasible for pediatric RAO, results in acceptable BP control and preserves renal function.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound evaluation of renal perfusion before angioplasty and its predictive value for hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is a common disease in the elderly population. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-based model for predicting post-angioplasty improvement in hypertension in patients with severe ARAS. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with severe ARAS (⩾ 70%) were included in this study, and 42 renal arteries received percutaneous transluminal renal arterial stenting. An optimal integral formula was developed from pre-interventional color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) and CEUS parameters using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A model for predicting short-term hypertension improvement was established using the integral formula and clinical risk factors. Bootstrapping was used for internal validation. RESULTS: Two integral formulas, LASSO.CCDS and LASSO.CEUS, were established. ROC curves of the two integral formulas showed that LASSO.CEUS was the better formula for predicting hypertension improvement (AUC 0.816, specificity 78.6%). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that duration of hypertension (OR 0.841, P= 0.027), diabetes (OR = 0.019, P= 0.010), and LASSO.CEUS (OR 7.641, P= 0.052) were predictors of short-term hypertension improvement after interventional therapy. Using LASSO.CEUS combined with clinical risk factors, the following prediction model was established: logit (short-term improvement in hypertension) = 1.879-0.173 × hypertension duration - 3.961 × diabetes + 2.034 × LASSO.CEUS (AUC 0.939). CONCLUSIONS: The model established using CEUS parameters and clinical risk factors could predict hypertension improvement after interventional therapy, but further research and verification are needed.

Outcomes of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty for pediatric renovascular hypertension: a 12-year retrospective single-center experience.

Background: Renovascular disease underlies 5-10% of all childhood hypertension. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) for pediatric renovascular hypertension (RVH). Methods: Data from 37 children with RVH who underwent PTRA of 45 lesions at our center from January 2010 to January 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Postoperative blood pressure (BP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), affected kidney size, restenosis, and complications were analyzed. Results: Mean age, weight, and height of patients at first PTRA was 11.51±4.57 (range, 3-17) years, 45.37±22.29 (range, 13.40-106.00) kg, and 1.46±0.26 (range, 0.92-1.85) m, respectively. Technical success was achieved in 33 of 37 (89.2%) patients and 40 of 45 (88.9%) lesions, without surgery-related complications. At a median of 7.5 (range, 3-14) months, restenosis occurred in 6 (16.7%) patients and 7 (16.3%) lesions (all ostial and 6 with a length >15 mm), yielding a clinical beneficial rate from first PTRA of 83.3%. At 18- and 20-month follow-up the mean kidney length (29 kidneys) increased from 8.89±1.55 to 9.79±1.51 cm (P<0.001) and mean GFR (34 kidneys) from 32.28±19.22 to 41.24±13.24 mL/min (P<0.001). Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, PTRA for the treatment of pediatric RVH can achieve satisfactory results. Angioplasty was associated with improved BP control and long-term preservation of renal function, as reflected by an increase in affected kidney size and a higher GFR.

Early cerebral hemodynamic changes following unilateral carotid artery stenting in patients with different degrees of carotid stenosis.

Background: Few studies have focused on cerebral hemodynamics in the early stage following carotid artery stenting (CAS). This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate cerebral hemodynamic changes within 6 hours of unilateral CAS in patients with different degrees of carotid stenosis. Methods: A total of 104 patients who underwent CAS accompanied by transcranial color-code Doppler or transcranial Doppler were enrolled in the study. The participants were divided into the following 3 groups based on the degree of carotid stenosis: severe stenosis group, extreme stenosis group, and near occlusion group. Bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak systolic velocity (PSV) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured using transcranial color-code Doppler before and 1 and 3 hours following CAS. Blood pressure, MCA-PSV, and PI were compared among the 3 groups. Results: At 1 hour following CAS, ipsilateral MCA-PSV increased compared to the baseline in the severe stenosis group [84±21 vs. 93±27 cm/s; 8.1%; interquartile range (IQR), 1.4-20.1%; P<0.001]. A similar hemodynamic change, but of a larger magnitude, was observed in the extreme stenosis group (83±24 vs. 100±29 cm/s; 20.8%; IQR, 5.3-33.1%; P<0.001) and near occlusion group (73±24 vs. 109±29 cm/s, 45.8%; IQR, 24.3-73.1%; P<0.001). At 3 hours after CAS, the hemodynamic changes were the same as those at 1 hour. PI increased in all 3 groups following CAS. A subgroup analysis was performed according to symptoms, sex, smoking status, history of hypertension, and presence of hyperlipidemia or diabetes, and the increase in ipsilateral MCA-PSV was not significant. In terms of adverse events, only 4 patients in the near occlusion group experienced transient post-CAS hyperperfusion. Conclusions: The ipsilateral MCA-PSV and PI in patients following unilateral CAS increased significantly in the initial hours. The increase in ipsilateral MCA-PSV was considerably higher in patients with a severe degree of stenosis. Near occlusion of the carotid artery was an independent risk factor for hyperperfusion after unilateral CAS.

Role of the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System in predicting outcomes of chronic limb-threatening ischemia in patients treated by drug-coated balloons.

Background: The Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) was proposed to assess the procedural complexity and technical failure rate and stratify the anatomic pattern of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). However, more evidence is needed to validate the GLASS in staging outcomes after endovascular therapy in patients with CLTI treated with drug-coated balloons (DCBs). This study aims to evaluate the role of the GLASS in predicting outcomes of CLTI patients treated with DCBs. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with CLTI treated with DCBs from July 2016 to June 2019. GLASS stages were assigned for every limb. The limb-based patency (LBP) rate, clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) rate, clinical improvement, and safety endpoints were analyzed and compared across the GLASS stages over 12 months of follow-up. Risk factors for the loss of LBP were identified using Cox regression analysis. Results: A total of 90 limbs were enrolled, with 55 (61.1%) having isolated femoropopliteal lesions and 35 (38.9%) having femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal lesions. Of the limbs, 17 (18.9%), 12 (13.3%), and 61 (67.8%) were assigned to GLASS stages I, II, and III, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the 12-month LBP was 65.4%, and no difference was found among the different stages (stage I 81.1%; stage II 85.2%; stage III 54.4%; P=0.080). The LBP was lower in stage III than in stages I and II combined (stage I and II 83.5%; stage III 54.4%; P=0.027). Similar results were found for the freedom from CD-TLR rates among the different stages. The ankle-brachial index values improved from 0.42±0.29 to 0.78±0.35 at follow-up (P<0.001). The rates of mortality, any amputation, and major amputation were similar among the groups. GLASS stage III and coronary heart disease were identified as independent risk factors for the loss of LBP at 12 months. Conclusions: The 1-year LBP and freedom from CD-TLR rates were lower in GLASS stage III than in stages I and II. The GLASS classification could predict the outcomes of CLTI patients with femoropopliteal lesions treated with DCB.

Case Report: Endovascular Treatment of Chronic Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Total Occlusions with Failed Medical Therapy.

Background: Current guidelines generally no longer support revascularization for chronic renal artery occlusive diseases because results from randomized controlled trials favor medical therapy over angioplasty. However, increasing reports indicate that patients with renal artery occlusion (RAO) can benefit from revascularization under certain circumstances. Case summary: Here, we present a patient with renal artery stenosis (RAS) who does not have refractory hypertension or fit any clinical trial inclusion criteria by far. Medical therapy failed to prevent the progression of RAS in this patient, leading to total occlusion of his right renal artery. This patient had progressive renal insufficiency but recovered renal function after endovascular treatment. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that angioplasty can be beneficial in selected RAO patients, especially those with residual renal function and collateral perfusion.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography for monitoring an embolized renal artery aneurysm: A case report and literature review.

This case report describes a 69-year-old male patient with a renal artery aneurysm that was followed up with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography at 8 months after coil embolization treatment. Due to the disappearance of residual lumen with few metal artifacts, the therapeutic effect was satisfactory. At present, the indications for the treatment of renal artery aneurysms are still controversial and there are very few reports of postembolization images of renal artery aneurysms, with no criteria for reintervention and few reports for monitoring the embolized aneurysms. Further reports and research are still needed for the treatment of this rare disease.

Neutrophil Infiltration Characterized by Upregulation of S100A8, S100A9, S100A12 and CXCR2 Is Associated With the Co-Occurrence of Crohn's Disease and Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are closely related. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the coexistence of CD and PAD are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the key molecules and pathways mediating the co-occurrence of CD and PAD through quantitative bioinformatic analysis of a public RNA sequencing database. Methods: Datasets of CD (GSE111889) and PAD (GSE120642) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the 'edgeR' and 'limma' packages of R. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia analyses of common DEGs were performed to explore the functions of DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and visualized by Cytoscape. Hub genes were selected using the plugin cytoHubba. Hub gene validation was performed in GSE95095 for CD and GSE134431 for PAD. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive values of the hub genes. Gene set enrichment analysis and immune infiltration of the hub genes were performed. Results: A total of 54 common DEGs (2 downregulated and 52 upregulated) were identified. Pathways of neutrophil chemotaxis, neutrophil migration and cytokine and cytokine receptors were enriched in CD and PAD. S100A8, S100A9, S100A12 and CXCR2 were identified as hub genes after validation, with all area under the curve > 0.7 for both CD and PAD. Neutrophil infiltration was associated with upregulation of the hub genes. Pathways of immune processes, including neutrophil activation, neutrophil chemotaxis, neutrophil migration were significantly correlated with high expression of S100A8, S100A9, S100A12 and CXCR2 in both CD and PAD. Conclusions: This bioinformatic study elucidates S100A8, S100A9, S100A12 and CXCR2 as hub genes for the co-occurrence of Crohn's disease and peripheral artery disease. Inflammation and immune regulation modulated by neutrophil infiltration play a central role in the development of CD and PAD and may be potential targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Subunits of C1Q Are Associated With the Progression of Intermittent Claudication to Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

Background: The pathophysiological mechanisms of intermittent claudication (IC) progression to chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) are still vague and which of patients with IC will become CLTI are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the key molecules and pathways mediating IC progression to CLTI by a quantitative bioinformatic analysis of a public RNA-sequencing database of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) to screen biomarkers discriminating IC and CLTI. Methods: The GSE120642 dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IC and CLTI tissues were analyzed using the "edgeR" packages of R. The Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to explore the functions of DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and visualized by Cytoscape software. Hub genes were selected by plugin cytoHubba. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed and the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive values of hub genes. Results: A total of 137 upregulated and 21 downregulated DEGs were identified. Functional enrichment clustering analysis revealed a significant association between DEGs and the complement and coagulation cascade pathways. The PPI network was constructed with 155 nodes and 105 interactions. The most significantly enriched pathway was complement activation. C1QB, C1QA, C1QC, C4A, and C1R were identified and validated as hub genes due to the high degree of connectivity. The area under the curve values for the five hub genes were greater than 0.95, indicating high accuracy for discriminating IC and CLTI. Conclusion: The complement activation pathway is associated with IC progression to CLTI. C1QB, C1QA, C1QC, C4A, and C1R might serve as potential early biomarkers of CLTI.

Prediction of Split Renal Function Improvement After Renal Artery Stenting by Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: The discrepancy between the high technical success rate and the relatively low clinical response rate of renal artery stenting (RAS) raises the importance to identify atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) patients who are most likely to benefit from RAS. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-MRI) in predicting split renal function (SRF) improvement after RAS in patients with ARAS. Methods: Thirty patients with severe ARAS who were treated with RAS were enrolled. Baseline cortical and medullary R2* values of each kidney were measured by BOLD-MRI, and each patient's SRF was evaluated by nuclear renal dynamic imaging at baseline and 1-month follow-up. Results: In total, 35 severe stenotic renal arteries of the 30 patients were analyzed. At 1-month follow-up, 34 kidneys (97.1%) of severe ARAS had acquired SRF. SRF improved in 12 kidneys of 10 patients. The cortical R2* and medullary R2* values in the SRF improvement kidneys were higher than those in the non-improvement kidneys (P ≤ 0.001). The area under the curve of medullary R2* was 0.879 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.736-1.000). A medullary R2* value ≥29.1 s-1 was noted to provide good sensitivity (0.833, 95% CI 0.552-0.970) and specificity (0.864, 95% CI 0.667-0.953) in predicting SRF improvement. Medullary R2* value was the only independent predictor of SRF improvement in multivariable analysis (P = 0.034, OR 3.017, 95%CI 1.089-8.358). Conclusion: This study showed that a BOLD-MRI medullary R2* value ≥29.1 s-1 was an excellent predictor of SRF improvement in patients with severe ARAS who underwent renal artery stenting.

Spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage in systemic lupus erythematosus: a rare case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage is relatively uncommon but may be life-threatening. There are some challenges in early diagnosis due to the lack of specific presentations. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage in a newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus patient who initially presented with non-specific flank pain. Weakness and unstable vital signs were noted on admission. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a sizable perirenal hematoma over the left retroperitoneal cavity. Renal arteriography identified active extravasation of contrast media from a distant branch of the left renal artery, and selective embolization effectively obliterated the bleeding spot. After cessation of bleeding, the patient received intensive immunosuppressive therapy for acute kidney injury and encephalopathy due to lupus. Her mental status recovered successfully, and she was withdrawn from short-term hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage in the condition of systemic lupus erythematosus was a rare clinical entity with life-threatening potential. Early accurate diagnosis of spontaneous renal hemorrhage requires both detailed clinical examination and radiologic studies. Interventional embolization is essential and effective for both diagnosis and treatment. A high index of suspicion is necessary to avoid missing this potentially fatal syndrome, especially in patients with an increased risk of bleeding.

Long-term results of endovascular reconstruction for aortoiliac occlusive disease.

BACKGROUND: Open surgery is the gold standard for the treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Endovascular therapy has emerged as an attractive alternative for AIOD due to its minimal invasiveness. The aims of the present study were to investigate the long-term patency of endovascular treatment and to compare the outcomes of Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC II) A/B and C/D lesions. METHODS: Patients with AIOD (n=156) were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Patency rates were assessed at 12, 36, and 60 months after the procedure. Parameters for comparisons between TASC II A/B and C/D lesions included primary patency, secondary patency, freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR), the technical success rate, the rate of complications, and risk factors for in-stent restenosis. RESULTS: For all patients, the technical success rate was 98.7%, the complication rate was 4.5%, and the mean follow-up period was 35.7 months. At 12, 36, and 60 months after the procedure, the primary patency rates were 96.5%, 88.3%, and 80.4%, respectively. The secondary patency rates were 99%, 96.4%, and 88%, respectively. The rates of freedom from TLR were 97.5%, 91.6%, and 89.6%. No significant differences were observed between A/B and C/D lesions in terms of primary patency (P=0.443), secondary patency (P=0.393), or freedom from TLR (P=0.481). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular reconstruction is effective and safe for AIOD, and should be the first-line treatment option for patients with TASC II A-D aortoiliac lesions.

Midterm outcomes of endovascular treatment with bare metal stents for Leriche syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the acute and midterm results of endovascular treatment with bare metal stents (BMS) for Leriche syndrome patients. METHODS: Patients with Leriche syndrome treated with BMS from August 2008 to May 2017 were included in the study and followed up. The primary endpoints were primary restenosis-free survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years. The secondary endpoints were secondary restenosis-free and freedom from target lesion revascularization survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years; technical success rate; complication rate; procedure-related mortality rate; and clinical status improvement at follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included and the follow-up duration was 34.7 ± 18.7 months (0-86 months). The 1-, 2- and 3-year primary restenosis-free survival rates were 94.4%, 88.1% and 73.5% and the secondary patency rates were 94.4%, 94.4% and 86.6%, respectively. The freedom from target lesion revascularization survival rates of patients at 1, 2 and 3 years were 94.4%, 88.1% and 79.3%, respectively. The aortoiliac lesions were successfully treated with BMS bilaterally in 17 patients (85.0%) and unilaterally in another 3 patients (15.0%). The complication rate was 10.0% and the procedure-related mortality rate was 0%. Mean ankle-brachial index increased significantly from 0.43 ± 0.20 before the procedure to 0.95 ± 0.21 after the procedure (P < 0.001), and to 1.00 ± 0.19 at the end of the follow-up (P < 0.001). Improvement in symptoms occurred in most patients soon after the endovascular procedure (95.0%) and at follow-up (88.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment with BMS is effective and safe for patients with Leriche syndrome according to 3-year follow-up results.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived endothelial cells increase capillary density and accelerate angiogenesis in mouse hindlimb ischemia model.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can improve limb perfusion and increase vessel density in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. But low engraftment rate of those cells limited their therapeutic effect. Endothelial cells (ECs) play an important role in neovascularization. And MSCs can differentiate into ECs in vitro. The aim of this study is to investigate if EC differentiation of MSCs in vitro before transplantation is effective in improving therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of ischemic disease in a murine ischemia animal model. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of EGFP-transgenic mice by density gradient centrifugation. The identity of the MSCs was determined by their cluster of differentiation (CD) marker profile by flow cytometry. Inducing medium containing a few cytokines was applied to induce the MSCs to differentiate into ECs. Endothelial differentiation was quantitatively evaluated using flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence, Matrigel tube formation assay, and Dil-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake assay. Mouse hindlimb ischemia model was made by excision of the femoral artery. Uninduced EGFP+ MSCs, induced EGFP+ MSCs, and PBS were intramuscularly injected into the gastrocnemius following ischemia no later than 24 h after operation. Restoration of blood flow and muscle function was evaluated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Immunofluorescence was conducted to evaluate the engraftment of transplanted MSCs. Histological analysis was performed to evaluate blood vessel formation. RESULTS: Induced EGFP+ MSCs expressed endothelial markers and exhibited tube formation capacity. Mice in the induced EGFP+ MSCs group had a better blood perfusion recovery, enhanced vessel densities, higher engraftment, and improved function of the ischemic limb than those in the uninduced EGFP+ MSCs or PBS groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that after short-term pre-treatment in the EC-inducing medium, induced MSCs acquire stronger vessel formation capability and enhanced angiogenic therapeutic effect in the murine hindlimb ischemia model.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Evaluation of Renal Blood Perfusion Changes After Percutaneous Transluminal Renal Angioplasty and Stenting for Severe Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis.

This study used contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to evaluate changes in renal cortical blood perfusion after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and stenting (PTRAS) for severe renal artery stenosis (RAS) (≥70%). CEUS was performed in 21 patients with 24 severe RASs that underwent PTRAS. Renal cortical perfusion was quantitatively evaluated by comparing time intensity curve (TIC) parameters for SonoVue (Bracco, Milan, Italy) contrast enhancement, including peak intensity (PI), time to peak (TTP), mean transmit time (MTT), curve ascending slope (S), area under the curve (AUC), AUC-wash-in and AUC-wash-out. The parameters PI, TTP, MTT and S differed significantly between the pre-intervention and post-intervention TIC analysis (p < 0.05). Of the 24 pre-intervention curve appearances, 58.3% (14/24) improved after operation. The PI difference correlated positively with the estimated glomerular filtration rate difference (r = 0.433, p < 0.05). In conclusion, changes in some ultrasound perfusion parameters on CEUS and the shape of the TIC can be used to quantitatively and intuitively evaluate renal cortical blood perfusion change after PTRAS.

Endovascular Treatment of Chronic Total Occlusion in the Subclavian Artery: A Review of 23 Cases.

Objectives and Background: To review technical details and long-term outcomes of endovascular treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the subclavian artery. Methods: From January 2010 to May 2017, 23 patients (17 male; median age, 65 years) underwent endovascular treatment for CTO of the subclavian artery. All lesions had been diagnosed by duplex scanning or computed tomography angiography before treatment. Sixteen (70.0%) patients had symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, 6 (26.1%) patients had symptoms of arm ischemia, and 2 (8.7%) patients were asymptomatic. Duplex scanning revealed that 16 patients had grade 3 and 7 patients had grade 2 steal blood flow. After recanalization, lesions were treated by stenting. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after endovascular treatment, and annually thereafter. Results: The overall technical success rate was 91.3% (21/23). The successful recanalization rate of antegrade and retrograde approaches were 68.2% (15/22) and 75.0% (6/8), respectively. The rate of clinical symptom remission was 95.2% (20/21) after treatment. No perioperative death or permanent neurological deficits were observed. One patient had arterial dissection treated by covered stent. The estimate cumulative primary and secondary patency rates at 5 years were 74.6 and 78.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment is a feasible and safe treatment for CTO lesions of the subclavian artery.

Drug-Coated Balloon for the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Tosaka Class III In-stent Restenosis Lesions.

Background: To date, there have been few studies examining the efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty in the treatment of Tosaka class III in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions in the clinical setting. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of DCBs in patients with Tosaka class III ISR femoropopliteal lesions. Methods: This single-center study enrolled 28 femoropopliteal ISR Tosaka III patients who were treated by DCB angioplasty from September 2016 to September 2018. The patency, the freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate, clinical improvement, and safety endpoints were analyzed during a 14-month follow-up period. Results: Out of the 28 patients, 32.1% presented with critical limb ischemia. The mean lesion length was 250.4 ± 93.9 mm. Technical success was achieved in all lesions (100%). Debulking devices were used in 50% of lesions, and bailout stents were performed in 3.6% of patients. Kaplan Meier estimates that the 14-month primary patency was 79.2% (95% CI 60.6-97.8%), whereas the freedom from TLR rate was 91.5% (95% CI 80.1-100%). Clinical symptoms improved by at least 1 Rutherford category in 82.1% of limbs. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) values improved from 0.51 ± 0.30 to 1.05 ± 0.22 at the final follow-up (P < 0.001). The rate of freedom from 30-day major adverse limb events (MALEs) was 100%. The mortality rate was 7.1%. Conclusion: These results suggested that the use of DCBs is safe and effective in treating femoropopliteal Tosaka class III ISR lesions.

Hemodynamic Surveillance of Unilateral Carotid Artery Stenting in Patients With or Without Contralateral Carotid Occlusion by TCD/TCCD in the Early Stage Following Procedure.

Objective: To evaluate the cerebral hemodynamic variations in patients with unilateral carotid artery stenosis and contralateral carotid occlusion (CCO) in hours following carotid artery stenting (CAS) by transcranial Doppler (TCD) or transcranial color-code Doppler (TCCD). Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients who underwent unilateral CAS were enrolled. Among them, 14 patients had ipsilateral severe stenosis and CCO (CCO group) while the other 51 patients had only unilateral severe carotid stenosis without CCO (UCS group). All patients underwent TCD or TCCD monitoring before, at 1 and 3 h after CAS. We monitored bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak systolic velocity (PSV), pulsatility index (PI), and blood pressure (BP), and compared that data between two groups. Results: In UCS group, ipsilateral MCA PSV increased relative to baseline at 1 h (96 ± 30 vs. 85 ± 26 cm/s, 15%, P < 0.001) and 3 h (97 ± 29 vs. 85 ± 26 cm/s, 17%, P < 0.001) following CAS. Significant PI increases were observed at 1 and 3 h following CAS on the ipsilateral side. In CCO group, ipsilateral MCA PSV increased relative to baseline at 1 h (111 ± 30 vs. 83 ± 26 cm/s, 35%, P < 0.001) and 3 h (107 ± 28 vs. 83 ± 26 cm/s, 32%, P <0.001) following CAS. The magnitude of ipsilateral MCA PSV increase was significantly higher in CCO group compared with UCS group at 1 h (P = 0.002) and 3 h (P = 0.024) following CAS, while BP similarly decreased between the two groups. On the contralateral side, significant MCA PSV increases were observed following CAS in CCO group but not in UCS group. Bilateral MCA PSV increases were higher in patients with a stenosis degree of ≥90% than in patients with stenosis degree of 70-89% only in CCO group. Conclusion: The ipsilateral MCA PSV and PI increase moderately in the initial hours after unilateral CAS in patients without CCO. In patients with CCO, the ipsilateral, and contralateral MCA PSV increase significantly in the early stage following CAS. CCO is a factor of the increased blood flow velocity in ipsilateral MCA after unilateral CAS.