Sickle cell maculopathy: Identification of systemic risk factors, and microstructural analysis of individual retinal layers of the macula.

PURPOSE: To identify systemic risk factors for sickle cell maculopathy, and to analyze the microstructure of the macula of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients by using automated segmentation of individual retinal layers. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with SCD and 30 matched controls underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and automated thickness measurement for each retinal layer; thicknesses for SCD patients were then compared to normal controls. Demographic data, systemic data, and lab results were collected for each SCD patient; multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential risk factors for sickle cell maculopathy. RESULTS: Ongoing chelation treatment (p = 0.0187) was the most predictive factor for the presence of sickle cell maculopathy; the odds were 94.2% lower when chelation was present. HbF level tended to influence sickle cell maculopathy (p = 0.0775); the odds decreased by 12.9% when HbF increased by 1%. Sickle cell maculopathy was detected in 43% of SCD patients as patchy areas of retinal thinning on SD-OCT thickness map, mostly located temporally to the macula, especially in eyes with more advanced forms of sickle cell retinopathy (p = 0.003). In comparison to controls, SCD patients had a subtle thinning of the overall macula and temporal retina compared to controls (most p<0.0001), involving inner and outer retinal layers. Thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium was also detected in SCD eyes (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic chelation therapy and, potentially, high levels of HbF are possible protective factors for the presence of sickle cell maculopathy, especially for patients with more advanced forms of sickle cell retinopathy. A subtle thinning of the overall macula occurs in SCD patients and involves multiple retinal layers, suggesting that ischemic vasculopathy may happen in both superficial and deep capillary plexi. Thinning of the outer retinal layers suggests that an ischemic insult of the choriocapillaris may also occur in SCD patients.

Changing from conventional to eversion endarterectomy in carotid artery disease--a safe transition process in the short and long term.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the transition process from conventional carotid endarterectomy (cCEA) to eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA). METHODS: Patients operated with carotid endarterectomy (CEA; 164 patients, 171 CEA) in 2002-2003 were retrospectively included. RESULTS: In 2002, cCEA was applied in 64 (80%) and eCEA in 16 (20%) patients. There was an inversion on the preponderant surgical technique in 2003 (cCEA in 34 patients [37%] and eCEA in 57 patients [63%]). Perioperative stroke or death occurred in 3 patients (3.8%) in 2002 and 5 (5.5%) in 2003 (P = .78). Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred in 2 patients (2.5%) in 2002 and 2 in 2003 (2.2%, P = 1.00). Median follow-up was 83 (79-86) and 70 (67-74) months for the 2002 and 2003 cohorts, respectively, and there were no differences in survival or ipsilateral stroke between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The transition from cCEA to eCEA is possible without significant changes in morbidity and mortality perioperatively and during follow-up.

Subintimal angioplasty of infrainguinal arterial occlusions for critical limb ischemia: long-term patency and clinical efficacy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term patency and clinical efficacy of subintimal angioplasty (SAP) of occluded infrainguinal arteries 3 years post procedure. METHODS: One hundred eighty-one patients (92 men; median age 79 years) underwent attempted SAP in 193 limbs with occluded infrainguinal arteries during the period 1999 to 2001. Nearly half (83, 46%) of the patients had diabetes. Most (172, 95%) had critical ischemia (Fontaine classification>II). All patients surviving at least 3 years after the procedures were followed in January 2005 with questionnaires, clinical examinations, ankle-brachial index measurements, and duplex ultrasonography. All data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The primary technical success in the entire cohort was 77% (148/193). Thirty-day mortality was 10% (19/181); 113 (62%) patients died before the 3-year follow-up. In the 68 (38%) survivors (71 limbs), patency at 49.2 months (IQR 40.8-57.6) was 40% (26/65 limbs imaged by duplex). The TASC classification did not affect technical or clinical outcomes. Forty-six (68%) of the survivors presented with clinical improvement (lower Fontaine classification at postoperative follow-up versus baseline). The limb salvage at >3 years was 86% in the 58 primarily successful SAPs and 38% in the 13 procedures that failed initially. CONCLUSION: SAP is a minimally invasive option for patients with critical limb ischemia. A primary technical success is essential for good clinical outcome and primary technical failure is more devastating than late occlusion. TASC classification and length of the SAP are of poor predictive value. More data are needed to confirm the efficacy of SAP.