Inflammation in deep vein thrombosis and the development of post-thrombotic syndrome: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and C-reactive protein [CRP]) in the acute phase of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are associated with elevated venous outflow resistance (VOR), thrombosis score (TS), reflux and the development of clinical post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). METHODS: In 110 patients with a first DVT, plasma concentrations of IL-6 and CRP were determined on the day of admission. VOR, TS and reflux were measured 7 days, 1 and 3 months after diagnosis. After 1 year patients were evaluated for PTS using the Clinical, Etiologic, Anatomic and Pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification and Villalta scale. RESULTS: Median levels of IL-6 and CRP were 7 pg mL(-1) and 21 mg L(-1), respectively. After 3 months, VOR was elevated in 33 patients (30%), TS in 33 (30%) and reflux in 57 (52%). Incidence of PTS was 36.7% using CEAP>or=3 and 35.4% using Villalta-scale>or=5. Elevated levels of IL-6 and CRP were related to higher outcomes of VOR after 3 months [relative risks (RR) 2.4 (95% CI 1.5-3.9) and 1.4 (1.1-3.3), respectively] and for IL-6 to TS [1.5 (1.1-2.1)]. For reflux no relation was found. After 90 days, elevated outcomes of VOR, TS and reflux were related to PTS after 1 year. The association of IL-6 and CRP with PTS was weak using the CEAP classification with a RR of 1.2 (0.7-2.2) and 1.8 (0.9-3.3) and absent according to the Villalta scale 0.6 (0.2-1.4) and 1.2 (0.6-2.5), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that inflammation might play a role in incomplete thrombus clearance, venous outflow obstruction and the development of PTS after 1 year.

[Ventricular assist device implantation as a bridge to cardiac transplantation in two adolescents with end-stage cardiomyopathy and heart failure as a result of anthracycline use]. / Een steunhart als overbrugging naar een harttransplantatie bij 2 adolescenten met cardiomyopathie en hartfalen in een eindstadium als gevolg van antracyclinegebruik.

In a adolescent women aged 15 and 17 years respectively, severe heart failure developed within a few months of anthracycline chemotherapy given for osteosarcoma. In the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology, malignancy with a remission duration of less than 5 years is an absolute contraindication to cardiac transplantation. Neither patient was eligible to receive a ventricular assist device (VAD) as a bridge to cardiac transplantation in the Netherlands, but they were accepted in Germany. One patient received a cardiac transplant 13 months later and at the last follow-up check she was in good health with a remission of 3 years. The other patient developed bone metastases 6 months after the VAD implantation. Cardiac transplantation was not a treatment option for her. Dose-dependent cardiotoxicity is a serious complication of the use of anthracyclines. In severe heart failure the prognosis is often worse than in adjuvantly treated malignancies like osteosarcoma. VAD may therefore be a valid option for patients with severe heart failure after anthracycline use for a malignancy. In cases of sustained remission VAD may be the bridge to transplantation.

[Liver abscesses as a complication of Crohn's disease]. / Leverabcessen als complicatie bij de ziekte van Crohn.

Liver abscesses were found in two women aged 23 and 34 years who suffered from Crohn's disease. The first patient was seen because of fever and thoracic pain and had been treated with infliximab. The second patient, who was pregnant, presented with abdominal pain that was thought to be due to an exacerbation of her inflammatory bowel disease. Ultrasonography and CT revealed that both patients had large liver abscesses. Both received antibiotic treatment, the first patient underwent drainage of the abscess, and the second underwent puncture twice, resulting in clinical improvements in both patients. In contrast to intra-abdominal abscesses, liver abscesses are rarely seen in patients with Crohn's disease. The clinical presentation can be mistaken for an exacerbation of Crohn's disease, but the diagnosis can be made easily using ultrasonography or CT. Treatment consists of (ultrasound-guided) percutaneous drainage and administration of antibiotics.