Vasa vasorum and plaque neovascularization on contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound imaging correlates with cardiovascular disease and past cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Histological data associate proliferation of adventitial vasa vasorum and intraplaque neovascularization with vulnerable plaques represented by symptomatic vascular disease. In this observational study, the presence of carotid intraplaque neovascularization and adventitial vasa vasorum were correlated with the presence and occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and events (CVE). METHODS: The contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound examinations of 147 subjects (mean age 64+/-11 years, 61% male) were analyzed for the presence of intraluminal plaque, plaque neovascularization (Grade 1=absent; Grade 2=present), and degree of adventitial vasa vasorum (Grade 1=absent, Grade 2=present). These observations were correlated with preexisting cardiovascular risk factors, presence of CVD, and history of CVE (myocardial infarction and transient ischemic attack/stroke). RESULTS: The presence of intraluminal carotid plaque was directly correlated to cardiovascular risk factors, CVD, and CVE (P<0.05). Adventitial vasa vasorum Grade 2 was associated with significant more subjects with CVD than vasa vasorum Grade 1 (73 versus 54%, P=0.029). Subjects with intraplaque neovascularization Grade 2 had significantly more often a history of CVE than subjects with intraplaque neovascularization Grade 1 (38 versus 20%, P=0.031). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that presence of plaque was significantly associated with CVD (odds ratio 4.7, 95% CI 1.6 to 13.8) and intraplaque neovascularization grade 2 with CVE (odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 12.6). CONCLUSIONS: The presence and degree of adventitial vasa vasorum and plaque neovascularization were directly associated with CVD and CVE in a retrospective study of 147 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound.

Comparison of echocardiography using tissue harmonics and contrast harmonics with radionuclide angiography for the assessment of left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality; however, the optimal noninvasive modality for the quantitative determination of LVEF is not apparent. HYPOTHESIS: We verified the hypothesis that the various echocardiographic methods of assessing LVEF using the Method of Discs with contrast (Optison human albumin microspheres; Amersham Health, Princeton, NJ) and visual assessment of LVEF using tissue harmonics and contrast harmonics compare favorably with radionuclide angiography (RNA). METHODS: In a prospective analysis, 24 consecutive patients scheduled to undergo RNA had an echocardiogram using tissue harmonics and contrast harmonics on the same day. LVEF was assessed by RNA by an experienced, blinded reader using manual determination of the region of interest. LVEF was calculated using the Method of Discs (Simpson's Rule) by a blinded sonographer. LVEF was visually estimated by two blinded readers using echocardiography with tissue harmonics and contrast harmonics on separate occasions. RESULTS: By linear regression analysis, LVEF determination by echocardiography with contrast using the Method of Discs correlated well with RNA (r = .835, p < .0005). Using Bland-Altman analysis, the second echocardiogram reader had excellent agreement with RNA, whereas the first reader had a mean difference of 5.25% (CI 1.3-9.2; p = .012) with visual assessment using tissue harmonics and a mean difference of 4.67% (CI 0.4-8.8; p = .031) with visual assessment using contrast harmonics compared with RNA. Thus, a small difference in agreement between RNA and echocardiographic visual estimation was noted that appeared to be primarily reader dependent. CONCLUSIONS: LVEF determination with echocardiography with contrast using the Method of Discs correlated well with RNA and provided agreement across a range of cardiac functions. Visual echocardiographic assessment of LVEF with both tissue harmonics and contrast harmonics correlated well with RNA, but contrast harmonics did not appear to offer an advantage over tissue harmonics alone.

A retrospective experience of right atrial and superior vena caval thrombi diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.

Central venous catheter (CVC) thrombosis and infection has become a frequent finding in immunosuppressed and chronically ill medical patients, particularly those with end-stage renal disease. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), as the only reliable noninvasive method of imaging the superior vena cava (SVC) is appreciated to be very useful in the evaluation of these lesions. We retrospectively review our findings of TEE for this purpose, with regard to frequency of positive findings, patient characteristics, and microbiologic findings from SVC and right atrial thrombi and vegetations associated with CVCs.