2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients with Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: Executive Summary

Are the Placement, Maintenance, and Removal of Femoral and Sciatic Catheters Associated With Bleeding Complications in Vascular Patients on Antithrombotics? A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Information on the safety of placement, maintenance, and removal of peripheral nerve blocks in the presence of therapeutic or prophylactic antithrombotics is limited to case reports.

METHODS

In this retrospective, descriptive study, we examined the use of femoral and gluteal or subgluteal sciatic perineural catheters in 146 patients on antithrombotics who received lower limb amputation (LLA) above or below the knee at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital between January 2015 and December 2019. We searched patient surgical records for complications such as bleeding, nerve damage, infection, and hematoma during placement, maintenance, and removal of the perineural catheters.

RESULTS

In this cohort of 146 patients on antithrombotics, there was 1 episode of hematoma with an estimated incidence of 1 of 146 (0.68%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-3.76). This patient developed a hematoma at the location of the femoral catheter and required a blood transfusion. This patient was on aspirin daily and subcutaneous heparin 3 times per day and had a normal coagulation profile during their hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

This report investigates bleeding complications of femoral and sciatic perineural catheters in patients undergoing LLA on antithrombotics. We found that, except for 1 patient, most patients on varying combinations of antithrombotics did not experience bleeding complications related to the femoral and sciatic perineural catheters.

Low Ankle-Brachial Index Is Associated With Stroke Recurrence in Ischemic Stroke Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Cardioembolic stroke (CE) has poor outcomes and high recurrence rates. A low ankle-brachial index (ABI <0.9) is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and poor stroke outcomes. We investigated whether a low ABI is associated with stroke recurrence, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and mortality in patients with CE and whether this association is affected by AF.

Methods: We enrolled patients with CE who underwent ABI measurements during hospitalization. Recurrent stroke was defined based on newly developed neurologic symptoms with relevant lesions 7 days after the index stroke. MACE comprised stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, or death.

Results: Of 775 patients, 427 (55.1%) were AF patients and 348 (44.9%) were non-AF patients. Patients were followed up for a median of 33.6 (IQR, 18.0–51.6) months. In total, 194 (25.0%) patients experienced MACE, including 77 (9.9%) patients with stroke recurrence and 101 (13.0%) patients with mortality, during the study period. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that an ABI <0.9 was independently associated with MACE (AF patients: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.327, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.371–3.949, non-AF patients: HR = 3.116, 95% CI = 1.465–6.629) and mortality (AF patients: HR = 2.659, 95% CI = 1.483–4.767, non-AF patients: HR = 3.645, 95% CI = 1.623–8.187). Stroke recurrence was independently associated with an ABI <0.9 in AF patients (HR = 3.559, 95% CI = 1.570–8.066), but not in non-AF patients (HR = 1.186, 95% CI = 0.156–8.989).

Conclusions: We found that a low ABI is associated with stroke recurrence, MACE, and mortality in patients with CE. In particular, the association between ABI and recurrent stroke is only present in AF patients. A low ABI may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with CE, especially in AF patients.

Impact of high on-treatment platelet reactivity after angioplasty in patients with critical limb ischemia

OBJECTIVES

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel is standard of care in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). However, high on treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) to DAPT is frequent and associated with major adverse limb events (MALE) in PAD patients. Nevertheless, association of MALE and HTPR in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) is not known. Moreover, comorbidities might confound response to antiplatelet medication further. Hence, in this trial we analyzed pharmacodynamic responses to DAPT and clinical events in CLI patients post PTA.

METHODS

In this prospective single center pilot analysis, we included 71 CLI patients. Patients received DAPT after PTA. Antiplatelet effect were measured by light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and vasodilator-stimulated protein phosphorylation assay (VASP). MALE, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and BARC bleeding within 12 months follow-up were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean age of patients was 73.37 ± 7.36 years and 47 (66.2%) were male. Overall HTPR appeared in 46 patients (64.8%). MALE and MACCE showed no differences between patients with and patients without HTPR. However, bleeding was higher in patients with sufficient pharmacodynamic response to DAPT (Bleeding - HTPR: 13.4% vs. no HTPR: 36.0%; log-rank HR: 0.32; 95% CI 0.1079 to 0.9396 p = 0.0217). This finding remained robust in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

HTPR to DAPT is frequent in CLI patients. However, bleeding was higher in patients with sufficient response to DAPT. Ischemic events did not differ. Hence, CLI patients might benefit from an alternative antithrombotic approach.

Critical lower extremity ischemia after snakebite: A case report

BACKGROUND

Globally, the estimated annual incidence of snakebites is approximately 5 million, and approximately 100000 deaths occur from snakebites annually. Local tissue reaction, haemorrhagic clotting disorder, nephrotoxicity, and neurotoxicity are very common effects of snake envenomation, but other rarer complications, such as thrombosis, may also occur as a result of underlying disease. In the treatment of snakebite patients, attention should be paid to the patient’s underlying diseases to avoid serious and catastrophic consequences secondary to snakebite.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 69-year-old man with critical right lower extremity pain after left foot snakebite 10 d prior without intermittent claudication or atrial fibrillation history. He was diagnosed with acute right lower extremity arterial thrombosis, which may have been caused by coagulopathy after snakebite and lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Lower extremity computed tomography angiography at another hospital revealed that the aortoiliac and femoral arteries had neither filling defects nor atherosclerosis, but the right popliteal artery was occluded 2.3 cm below the tibial plateau. The patient received emergency catheter-directed thrombolysis, but amputation was carried out 11 d after admission because the patient had been admitted to the hospital too late to save the extremity.

CONCLUSION

Acute ischaemia of the lower extremity due to snakebite is a rare event, and physicians should bear in mind the serious complications that may occur, especially in patients with atherosclerotic disease.

Isolated low toe-brachial index is associated with increased mortality and morbidity: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to assess the prognostic impact of perfusion assessments including ankle-brachial Index (ABI) and toe-brachial Index (TBI) on survival of patients who present with diabetic foot ulceration and to analyse clinical outcomes when patients are categorised into three levels of limb ischaemia.

METHOD

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive patients presenting with foot ulceration. Patients continued with their standard of care, after having baseline assessments of limb perfusion. Patients were retrospectively categorised into three groups according to baseline ABI and TBI: Group 1 (n=31) non-ischaemic (TBI≥0.75, ABI≥0.9), Group 2 (n=67) isolated low TBI with foot ischaemia (TBI<0.75, ABI≥0.90) and Group 3 (n=30) foot-leg ischaemia (TBI<0.75, ABI<0.90).

RESULTS

A total of 128 patients took part in the study. Low TBI was associated with a significant decrease in patient survival (42±20 versus 51±16 months, p=0.011). There was a progressive and significant decline in mean patient survival time (51±16 versus 44±20 versus 39±22 months, respectively, for ANOVA across the three groups, p=0.04). Patients with isolated low TBI had angioplasty and bypass at a rate similar to that of patients in Group 3 (low ABI and low TBI). The proportion of angioplasties was significantly higher in the isolated low TBI (19.4% (13/67) versus the non-ischaemic 3.2% (1/31), p=0.033). Such revascularisation resulted in ulcer healing within the foot ischaemic group that was similar to the non-ischaemic group (68% versus 60% over 12 months, p=0.454).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of ABI level, measurement of TBI identifies patients with isolated low TBI who require specialised care pathways and revascularisation to achieve ulcer healing that is similar to non-ischaemic patients.

[Methods of decreasing the risk of repeat interventions in patients after arterial revascularization]

Discussed in the article are the main problems related to surgical treatment of patients with peripheral artery disease, particularly taking into consideration that in the world there are from 160 to 202 million people suffering from this disease, with two thirds of such patients having signs of lesions of coronary or cerebral arteries. Vascular reconstructive interventions cannot completely eliminate the problem, since in the postoperative period there may develop cardiovascular complications related to both the limb involved as either acute or progressing chronic ischaemia and arteries of other localization (coronary, cerebral). The risk of serious cardiovascular complications in patients with a history of endured adverse ischaemic events on the part of limbs is severalfold higher. To solve these problems and decrease complications, salicylic acid is used as basic therapy. Attempts at replacing it by another drug or combined therapy with an alternative antiaggregant showed no advantages in increased risk of massive haemorrhage. On the other hand, a combination of salicylic acid with an anticoagulant at a low dose, i. e., rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily as compared with acetylsalicylic acid monotherapy made it possible to significantly decrease the incidence of various cardiovascular complications in the form of myocardial infarction, stroke, adverse ischaemic events on the part of the extremity, limb amputation.

Deep learning-based photoplethysmography classification for peripheral arterial disease detection: a proof-of-concept study

Objective.A proof-of-concept study to assess the potential of a deep learning (DL) based photoplethysmography PPG ('DLPPG') classification method to detect peripheral arterial disease (PAD) using toe PPG signals.Approach.PPG spectrogram images derived from our previously published multi-site PPG datasets (214 participants; 31.3% legs with PAD by ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI)) were input into a pretrained 8-layer (five convolutional layers + three fully connected layers) AlexNet as tailored to the 2-class problem with transfer learning to fine tune the convolutional neural network (CNN).k-fold random cross validation (CV) was performed (fork = 5 andk = 10), with each evaluated over k training/validation runs. Overall test sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and Cohen's Kappa statistic with 95% confidence interval ranges were calculated and compared, as well as sensitivities in detecting mild-moderate (0.5 ≤ ABPI < 0.9) and major (ABPI < 0.5) levels of PAD.Main results.CV with eitherk = 5 or 10 folds gave similar diagnostic performances. The overall test sensitivity was 86.6%, specificity 90.2% and accuracy 88.9% (Kappa: 0.76 [0.70-0.82]) (atk= 5). The sensitivity to mild-moderate disease was 83.0% (75.5%-88.9%) and to major disease was 100.0% (90.5%-100.0%).Significance.Substantial agreements have been demonstrated between the DL-based PPG classification technique and the ABPI PAD diagnostic reference. This novel automatic approach, requiring minimal pre-processing of the pulse waveforms before PPG trace classification, could offer significant benefits for the diagnosis of PAD in a variety of clinical settings where low-cost, portable and easy-to-use diagnostics are desirable.

Efficacy and Safety of Rivaroxaban Therapy for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with PAD for the first time.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted for PAD.

RESULTS

Three trials which contained 14873 patients were included for final meta-analysis. The results showed patients with rivaroxaban was associated with reduction in primary efficacy outcome (RR 0.83; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.90; p < 0.001). The RR was 0.85 (0.71 to 1.01) for patients with rivaroxaban alone and 0.81 (0.74 to 0.89) for those with rivaroxaban plus aspirin (p for heterogeneity between groups = 0.65). Patients with rivaroxaban showed a lower rate of acute limb ischemia (0.56; 0.47 to 0.66; p < 0.001). There was a trend toward a reduction in the rate of major amputation for vascular causes in the rivaroxaban arm (0.81; 0.63 to 1.03; p = 0.08). Compared with control, rivaroxaban therapy did not reduce the risks of myocardial infarction (0.87, 0.73 to 1.04, p = 0.12), ischemic stroke (0.85, CI 0.68 to 1.06, p = 0.15), death from cardiovascular causes (0.99, 0.85 to 1.15, p = 0.91) or death from any cause (1.00, 0.90 to 1.12, p = 0.98). Rivaroxaban therapy was associated with a 1.57-fold higher major bleeding rate as compared with those with aspirin or warfarin alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the risks of the primary efficacy outcomes or adverse limb events were significantly lower with rivaroxaban than with aspirin or warfarin alone in patients with PAD. It also points out the significant major bleeding that occur because of such therapies.

Antithrombotic regimens in females with symptomatic lower extremity peripheral arterial disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at increased risk for systemic arterial thromboembolic events. Females represent a unique subset of patients with PAD, who differ from males in important ways: they have smaller diameter vessels, undergo lower extremity bypass less frequently and experience higher rates of graft occlusion, amputation and mortality than males. Females also trend towards higher rates of major coronary events and cardiovascular mortality. Current guidelines recommend monoantiplatelet therapy (MAPT) for secondary prevention in patients with symptomatic PAD. However, indications for more intensive antithrombotic therapy in this cohort-especially among females who are frequently under-represented in randomised controlled trials (RCTs)-remain unclear. As newer antithrombotic therapies emerge, some RCTs have demonstrated differential effects in females versus males. A systematic review is needed to quantify the rates of arterial thromboembolic and bleeding events with different antithrombotic regimens in females with symptomatic PAD.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will search MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials for published RCTs that include females with symptomatic PAD and compare full dose anticoagulation±antiplatelet therapy, dual pathway inhibition or dual antiplatelet therapy with MAPT. Title, abstract and full-text screening will be conducted in duplicate by three reviewers. Authors will be contacted to obtain sex-stratified outcomes as needed. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data will be extracted by independent reviewers and confirmed by a second reviewer. Quantitative synthesis will be conducted using Review Manager (RevMan) V.5 for applicable outcomes data. Planned subgroup analysis by PAD severity, vascular intervention and indication for antithrombotics will be conducted where data permits.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is waived as the study does not involve primary data collection. This review will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and for presentation at national and international scientific meetings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This protocol was registered with the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID# CRD42020196933).

Multimodal Supervised Exercise Training Is Effective in Improving Long Term Walking Performance in Patients with Symptomatic Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multimodal supervised exercise training (SET) program on walking performance for 12 months in patients with symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Consecutive patients with Fontaine stage II PAD participating in the SET program of our hospital were retrospectively investigated. Walking performance, assessed using a treadmill with measures of the pain-free and maximal walking distance (PFWD, MWD, respectively), and 6 min walking distance (6MWD), were tested before and following SET, as well as at 6 and 12 months after SET completion. Ninety-three symptomatic patients with PAD (65.0 ± 1.1 y) were included in the study. Following SET, the walking performance significantly improved (PFWD: +145%, p ≤ 0.001; MWD: +97%, p ≤ 0.001; 6MWD: +15%, p ≤ 0.001). At 6 months, PFWD (+257%, p ≤ 0.001), MWD (+132%, p ≤ 0.001), and 6MWD (+11%, p ≤ 0.001) remained significantly improved compared with the pre-SET condition. At 12 months, PFWD (+272%, p ≤ 0.001), MWD (+130%, p ≤ 0.001), and 6MWD (+11%, p ≤ 0.001) remained significantly improved compared with the pre-training condition. The walking performance remained significantly improved in both women and men for up to 12 months (p ≤ 0.001). Multimodal SET is effective at improving walking performance in symptomatic patients with PAD, with improvements lasting up to 12 months.

Effectiveness of Home-Based Pain-Free Exercise versus Walking Advice in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Exercise therapy in the intermediate stages of peripheral artery disease (PAD) represents an effective solution to improve mobility and quality of life (QoL). Home-based programs, although less effective than supervised programs, have been found to be successful when conducted at high intensity by walking near maximal pain. In this randomized trial, we aim to compare a low-intensity, pain-free structured home-based exercise (SHB) program to an active control group that will be advised to walk according to guidelines. Sixty PAD patients aged > 60 years with claudication will be randomized with a 1:1 ratio to SHB or Control. Patients in the training group will be prescribed an interval walking program at controlled speed to be performed at home; the speed will be increased weekly. At baseline and after 6 months, the following outcomes will be collected: pain-free walking distance and 6-min walking distance (primary outcome), ankle-brachial index, QoL by the VascuQoL-6 questionnaire, foot temperature by thermal camera, 5-time sit-to-stand test, and long-term clinical outcomes including revascularization rate and mortality. The home-based pain-free exercise program may represent a sustainable and cost effective option for patients and health services. The trial has been approved by the CE-AVEC Ethics Committee (898/20). Registration details: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04751890 [Registered: 12 February 2021].

Interpretation of Near-Infrared Imaging in Acute and Chronic Wound Care

Vascular assessment is a critical component of wound care. Current routine noninvasive vascular studies have limitations which can give a false sense of security of the presence of adequate perfusion for healing. Near-infrared imaging modalities can serve as an additional diagnostic assessment of wounds in which adequate perfusion is a concern. Correct interpretation of near-infrared images obtained is critical as subtleties that exist in the acute and chronic wound population goes beyond the interpretation that increased signal is consistent with adequate perfusion for healing. The objective of this paper is to educate providers on the correct interpretation of this point-of-care imaging modality in day-to-day wound-care practice to guide clinical decision-making for rapid wound resolution.

High Burden of Premature Arteriosclerosis on Renal Biopsy Results in Incident Lupus Nephritis

OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is accelerated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis (LN). Despite the literature suggesting that renal arteriosclerosis predicts CVD in other glomerulonephritis diseases, arteriosclerosis grading and reporting might be particularly overlooked in LN biopsies. Our objective was to examine the burden of renal arteriosclerosis in LN and to assess whether arteriosclerosis is underreported in LN biopsies.

METHODS

We identified all patients with LN undergoing kidney biopsy between 1994 and 2017 at an academic center. We interpreted LN biopsy reports to classify the Banff categories of absent, mild, moderate, or severe renal arteriosclerosis. The prevalence of renal arteriosclerosis was compared with the prevalence published for age-matched healthy peers, and predictors of arteriosclerosis were examined. We overread biopsies for Banff renal arteriosclerosis grading and compared to pathology reports.

RESULTS

Among 189 incident patients with LN, renal arteriosclerosis prevalence was 2 decades earlier compared to their healthy peers, affecting 40% of patients ages 31-39 years with LN compared to 44% of healthy peers ages 50-59 years. A multivariable analysis showed a 3-fold higher odds of renal arteriosclerosis in patients ages ≥30 years with LN. LN chronicity on biopsy results predicted a 4-fold higher odds of renal arteriosclerosis. The overreads determined that 50% of standard LN biopsy reports missed reporting the presence or absence of renal arteriosclerosis.

CONCLUSION

Renal arteriosclerosis is accelerated by 2 decades in patients with LN compared to their healthy peers and is overlooked by pathologists in half of the routine biopsy reports. We propose incorporating Banff renal arteriosclerosis grading in all LN biopsy reports.

Effect of Home-based Exercise Therapy for Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients Underwent Endovascular Treatment: A Clinical Controlled Design

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to clarify the effect of home-based exercise therapy on physical activity in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients after EVT.

METHODS

Study design was controlled clinical design. The subjects were 30 patients (76.6% men) who underwent EVT in the Sakakibara Heart Institute of Okayama. Patients with EVT meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups, intervention group (Home-based exercise) and control group. Patients' basic characteristics, the number of steps walked and QOL questionnaire (WIQ, SEPA, Vascu QOL) were assessed before surgery and, at the 3 month after discharge. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare number of steps walked and QOL questionnaire.

RESULTS

Interaction effect were observed in the number of steps walked (F (1,28) =13.89, p<0.01). A multiple comparison test confirmed a significant increase between results of before surgery and at three months after surgery in the intervention group (p<0.01). An interaction between the presence and absence of intervention was found for the WIQ pain score (F(1,28) = 5.86, p=0.01), speed score (F(1,28) = 3.80, p=0.04) and SEPA (F(1,28) = 4.99, p=0.03). In a multiple comparison study, there was a significant increase in WIQ pain and speed scores in both groups before and 3 months after discharge from the hospital.

CONCLUSION

Home-based exercise therapy using physical activity indices has the potential to improve number of steps and quality of life in patients with PAD after EVT.

A Case of Critical Essential Thrombocythemia Complicated by Severe Lower-Extremity Arterial Disease

Patient: Male, 66-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Essential thrombocythemia with CML • peripheral artery disease

Symptoms: Fever • infection • necrosis • pain

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Cardiology • Dermatology • Diagnostics, Laboratory • Hematology

Systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes of lower extremity peripheral arterial interventions in patients with and without chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease

OBJECTIVE

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a greater risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Although individual studies have documented an association between CKD and/or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing PAD interventions in an era of technological advances in peripheral revascularization, the magnitude of the effect size is unknown. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of PAD interventions for patients with CKD/ESRD with those patients with normal renal function, stratified by intervention type (endovascular vs surgical), reflecting contemporary practice.

METHODS

Five databases were analyzed from January 2000 to June 2019 for studies that had compared the outcomes of lower extremity PAD interventions for patients with CKD/ESRD vs normal renal function. We included both endovascular and open interventions, with an indication of either claudication or critical limb ischemia. We analyzed the pooled odds ratios (ORs) across studies with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random effects model. Funnel plot and exclusion sensitivity analyses were used for bias assessment.

RESULTS

Seventeen observational studies with 13,140 patients were included. All included studies, except for two, had accounted for unmeasured confounding using either multivariable regression analysis or case-control matching. The maximum follow-up period was 114 months (range, 0.5-114 months). The incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was greater in those with CKD/ESRD than in those with normal renal function (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.25-2.27; P = .001). The incidence of major amputations (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.37-2.83; P < .001) and long-term mortality (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.45-3.58; P < .001) was greater in those with CKD/ESRD. The greater TLR rates with CKD/ESRD vs normal renal function were only seen with endovascular interventions, with no differences for surgical interventions. The differences in rates of major amputations and long-term mortality between the CKD/ESRD and normal renal function groups were statistically significant, regardless of the intervention type.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CKD/ESRD who have undergone lower extremity PAD interventions had worse outcomes than those of patients with normal renal function. When stratifying our results by intervention (endovascular vs open surgery), greater rates of TLR for CKD/ESRD were only seen with endovascular and not with open surgical approaches. Major amputations and all-cause mortality were greater in the CKD/ESRD group, irrespective of the indication. Evidence-based strategies to manage this at-risk population who require PAD interventions are essential.

Ultrasound in the Modern Management of the Diabetic Foot Syndrome: A Multipurpose Versatile Toolkit

Ultrasound (US) is a noninvasive and versatile technology that in recent years found acceptance in almost all the medical specialties, with diagnostic and interventional applications. In the diabetic foot syndrome (DFS), US found specific indications mainly in the screening, quantification, and follow-up of the vascular component of the pathology, but also in the study of the deformities and structural modifications induced by neuropathy and in the diagnosis and surgical management of infections, especially those that induce anatomical changes, like abscesses and fasciitis. This review will summarize all these application of US, giving special attention to the vascular aspects, and on the predominant role that US gained in recent times to guide the indication to revascularization, on the new standardized approach to the study of the arterial tree of the limb and the foot, the so-called duplex ultrasound arterial mapping, which significantly increased the utilization of US to plan the revascularizations in this complex pathology. Outside the vascular fields, the diagnosis of neuropathy and infection and the intraoperative use of US in the surgical management of abscesses and fasciitis will be discussed, leaving the last part to the new and interesting applications of US in the management of DFU, a field that is still in evolution, offering new possibilities to the health care professionals involved in the management of these chronic wounds. The variety of applications both in diagnostic and operative fields makes US a rather versatile technology-a toolkit-that should have a special place among those at reach of the specialists of DFS care.

Migraine as a Risk Factor for Peripheral Artery Occlusive Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study

We aim to evaluate the development of peripheral occlusive artery disease (PAOD) in patients with migraine by using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and individuals with diagnostic codes of migraine were enrolled in the study group after excluding those diagnosed with PAOD before the index date. Each subject with migraine was propensity-score matched to another non-migraine patient and the latter served as the control group. A total of 37,288 patients were finally enrolled in the groups. The primary outcome was set as the development of PAOD between the two groups while multiple possible risk factors, including demographic data and comorbidities, were analyzed via the Cox proportional hazards regression. There were 885 and 530 PAOD events in the study and control groups, and the study group had a significantly higher adjusted hazard ratio (1.65, 95% confidential interval: 1.48–1.84, p < 0.001), and the cumulative incidence also revealed a correlation between migraine and PAOD. Other potential risk factors related to the existence of PAOD include age, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, stroke, and asthma. For individuals without certain systemic diseases including hypertension, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, asthma, or heart failure, the hazard ratio of subsequent PAOD was significantly higher in the migraine patients than that in the non-migraine individuals (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, the presence of migraine is a significant risk factor for the development of subsequent PAOD.

[Prospects of clinical application of cilostazol for peripheral artery disease]

This article presents a review of the literature on studying Cilostazol, a type 3 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, also providing the Russian and foreign statistics on the prevalence of peripheral artery disease. It is underlined that the majority of patients with peripheral artery disease have atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary and cerebral vascular basins. Cilostazol deservedly occupies the first lines in the sections of pharmacotherapy for intermittent claudication in international and Russian consensus documents on peripheral artery disease. The drug has an extensive evidence base for the following pharmacological effects: vasodilating, antiplatelet, endothelial protective, and vasculogenic. Clinical efficacy of Cilostazol was confirmed in 15 randomized clinical trials (3 718 patients with intermittent claudication) studying the use of Cilostazol taken twice daily at doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg as compared with placebo or versus pentoxifylline given in a dose of 400 mg three times daily, with a demonstrable increase in the pain-free walking distance and the maximal walking distance on the background of taking Cilostazol. The drug significantly improves the outcomes of endovascular interventions on arteries of lower extremities, decreasing the incidence of restenosis, prolonging limb survival, and reducing the frequency of major amputations. Many studies addressing the use of Cilostazol in patients with coronary and cerebral atherosclerosis have investigated the effect of the drug as a component of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + Cilostazol) and triple antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + clopidogrel + Cilostazol) after endovascular interventions. The addition of Cilostazol to treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the occurrence of re-stenosis, with no increase in the incidence of haemorrhage. Cilostazol may be recommended for patients with multifocal atherosclerosis and resistance to aspirin and clopidogrel. Also presented in the article are the results of a Russian clinical trial studying comparative efficacy of Cilostazol and pentoxifylline in patients with intermittent claudication.

Hyperthyroidism and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are associated with a low ankle-brachial index

We aimed to assess the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in patients with Graves' disease. In the cross-sectional assessments, 81 patients with drug-naïve Graves' disease and 235 with euthyroidism were enrolled. ABI and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels were assessed. In the prospective follow-up, 32 patients with Graves' disease were assessed again after antithyroid drugs for at least 4 weeks, and 32 age- and sex-matched controls with euthyroidism were also followed up. Patients with Graves' disease had a higher VCAM-1 level (1309 ± 292 vs. 1009 ± 168 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and a lower ABI (0.98 ± 0.11 vs. 1.06 ± 0.10, P < 0.001) than those with euthyroidism. ABI was significantly lower in patients with hyperthyroidism and a high VCAM-1 level than in those with euthyroidism and a low VCAM-1 level (regression coefficient: - 0.050, 95% confidence interval [CI] between - 0.080 and - 0.019; P = 0.001). After treatment with antithyroid drugs, the change in free thyroxine (T4) level was inversely associated with the percentage change in ABI (regression coefficient: - 0.003, 95% CI between - 0.005 and - 0.001, P = 0.001). A synergistic effect of VCAM-1 and free T4 on ABI reduction was observed. After a longitudinal follow-up, an increase in ABI was significantly correlated with a decrease in the free T4 level.

Three-Year Outcomes of Orbital Atherectomy for the Endovascular Treatment of Infrainguinal Claudication or Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Purpose: To investigate the outcomes of orbital atherectomy (OA) for the treatment of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) manifesting as claudication or chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Materials and Methods: The database from the LIBERTY study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01855412) was interrogated to identify 503 PAD patients treated with any commercially available endovascular devices and adjunctive OA for 617 femoropopliteal and/or infrapopliteal lesions. Cox regression analyses were employed to examine the association between baseline Rutherford category (RC) stratified as RC 2-3 (n=214), RC 4-5 (n=233), or RC 6 (n=56) and all-cause mortality, target vessel revascularization (TVR), major amputation, major adverse event (MAE), and major amputation/death at up to 3 years of follow-up. The mean lesion lengths were 78.7±73.7, 131.4±119.0, and 95.2±83.9 mm, respectively, for the 3 groups. Results: After OA, balloon angioplasty was used in >98% of cases, with bailout stenting necessary in 2.0%, 2.8%, and 0% of the RC groups, respectively. A small proportion (10.8%) of patients developed angiographic complications, without differences based on presentation. During the 3-year follow-up, claudicants were at lower risk for MAE, death, and major amputation/death than patients with CLTI. The 3-year Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were 84.6% for the RC 2-3 group, 76.2% for the RC 4-5 group, and 63.7% for the RC 6 group. The 3-year freedom from major amputation was estimated as 100%, 95.3%, and 88.6%, respectively. Among CLTI patients only, the RC at baseline was correlated with the combined outcome of major amputation/death, whereas RC classification did not affect TVR, MAE, major amputation, or death rates. Conclusion: Peripheral artery angioplasty with adjunctive OA in patients with CLTI or claudication is safe and associated with low major amputation rates after 3 years of follow-up. These results demonstrate the utility of OA for patients across the spectrum of PAD.

Skin disorders indicating peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic venous insufficiency in organ transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in organ transplant recipients (OTR) can lead to harmful outcomes. We made an inventory of cutaneous manifestations of PAOD and CVI in OTR in relation with diabetes and other potential risk factors.

METHODS

A prospective study in a single center was performed. OTR (n = 112) were included at the outpatient clinic to investigate clinical signs of PAOD and CVI. The most commonly associated risk factors were determined.

RESULTS

PAOD had been diagnosed in 15.6% and CVI in 30.0% of the patients. Diabetes was the cause of organ failure in 9.8% of the patients. Type 1 diabetes had been diagnosed in 8.9% and type 2 diabetes in 21.4% (59.1% new-onset diabetes after transplantation). Type 1 diabetes showed an increased risk for PAOD and limb amputation with hazard ratios of 11.0 (95%CI 3.0-40.2) and 9.1 (95%CI 1.4-58.6). Type 2 diabetes showed no increased risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a history of type 1 diabetes were at high risk for PAOD even years after a simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation and they should remain under close observation for PAOD even though they are supposedly "cured" from their diabetes to prevent a harmful outcome.

Pole Test and Ankle-Brachial Index by Using Doppler Ultrasound for Peripheral Arterial Disease in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) causes great disability in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Pole test is a simplified test utilizing the basis of Doppler ultrasound invented to correct false elevation in ankle-brachial index (ABI) in diabetic patients with severe calcification of the tibial artery. However, the role of pole test in ESRD patients is still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the sensitivity, specificity, and overall utility of pole tests in such patients. One hundred and four patients were recruited and examined with 3 tests: pole test, ABI, and toe-brachial index, the latter serving as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0. The sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic values of ABI and pole tests were calculated. There were 104 ESRD patients enrolled. Pole tests showed to have low probability to provide accurate results (area under the curve = 0.505, standard error = 0.042). Low sensitivity of ABI (34.96%) can be observed in ESRD patients. Specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ABI in all cases were, respectively, 85.91%, 81.13%, and 43.26%. It is concluded that pole test accuracy seemed to be limited in ESRD patients. ABI was found to be confounded by medial arterial calcification, resulting in low sensitivity as well. The results of this study permit the observation that an optimal tool for screening peripheral arterial disease in ESRD patients remains to be discovered.

Peripheral Arterial Disease Located in the Feet of Patients With Diabetes and Foot Ulceration Demands a New Approach to the Assessment of Ischemia

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common below the knee in diabetes but arteries in the foot are controversially said to be spared of occlusive disease. This is relevant to the convenient site of vascular assessment that is recommended in guidelines. Should assessment be distal at toe/forefoot to detect foot disease or only proximal to detect disease at ankle level? The objective was to determine frequency of PAD at foot and ankle level. This was a cross-sectional observational study, evaluating arterial disease proximally by palpation of pedal pulses and Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), and distally by Toe Brachial Index (TBI), and forefoot transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcpO₂), in consecutive patients presenting with foot ulceration. We assessed 301 limbs in 154 patients: 59% of limbs were ulcerated. PAD in the foot was detected in 70% and 74% of limbs by TBI and forefoot tcpO₂, respectively, but PAD at ankle level only in 51% and 34% by pulse palpation and ABI, respectively. In limbs with "normal" ABI, PAD was present in the foot in 70% as indicated by low TBI, and in 73% by low tcpO₂, with 70% to 64% having associated ulceration, respectively. When compared with arterial waveforms, as a measure of PAD, TBI gave an excellent AUC (area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.73-0.89), but ABI gave a poor AUC of 0.65 (95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.76). In conclusion, arterial disease is important in the foot and can be detected by TBI, which should be performed even when ABI is normal. Guidelines that recommend TBI only if ABI is artificially raised need updating.

Current opinion on the role of the foot perfusion in limb amputation risk assessment

The most important and consulted guidelines dealing with not healing foot ulcers suggest the measurement of the foot perfusion (FP) to exclude the critical limb ischemia (CLI), because of the high risk of limb amputation. But the recommended cut-off values of FP fail to include all the heterogeneity of patients of the real-life with a not healing ulcer. Often these patients are diabetics with a moderate PAD but with a high level of infection. To meet this goal, in 2014, the Society for Vascular Surgery has published the "Lower Extremity Threatened Limb Classification System: Risk stratification based on Wound, Infection, and foot Ischemia (WIfI)." This new classification system has changed the criteria of assessment of limb amputation risk, replacing the single cut-off value role with a combination of a spectrum of perfusion values along with graded infection and dimension levels of skin ulcers. The impact of this new classification system was remarkable so to propose the substitution of the CLI definition, with the new Critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), that seems to define the limb amputation risk more realistically.

Sex-Related Differences in the Outcomes of Endovascular Interventions for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: Results from the LIBERTY 360 Study

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have suggested that women with chroniclimb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) may have worse outcomes than men. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are sex-related differences in outcomes of patients with CLTI undergoing endovascular treatment with current endovascular technologies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were derived from the LIBERTY 360 study (NCT01855412). Hazard ratios and the respective 95% confidence intervals were synthesized to examine the association between sex and all-cause mortality, target vessel revascularization (TVR), major amputation, major adverse event (MAE) and major amputation/death up to 3 years of follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 689 patients with CLTI (female: N=252 vs male: N=437) treated with any FDA approved or cleared device were included. The mean lesion length was 126.9±117.3mm and 127.4±113.3mm for the female and male patients, respectively. Although a slightly higher incidence of in-hospital mortality was observed in the female group (1.2% vs 0.0%, p=0.049), there was no difference in female vs male survival rates during follow-up. However, the risk of major amputation at 18 months was higher for the male group (male vs female: HR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.09-5.12; p=0.030). No difference between the two groups was detected in terms of TVR or MAE during follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Data regarding sex-related disparity in outcomes after endovascular therapy of patients with CLTI are conflicting. Gender-related characteristics rather than biological sex characteristics might be the cause of these conflicting findings. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of sex in revascularization outcomes among this high-risk population.

Vascular Assessment of the Lower Extremity with a Chronic Wound

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects many individuals worldwide and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Controversy exists on whether or not to screen asymptomatic patients. Further complicating this is that many patients with a chronic lower extremity wound are often asymptomatic. PAD and traditional noninvasive vascular studies may be inaccurate in providing a correct diagnosis. A review of current and novel vascular assessment modalities along with their benefits and limitations are presented here. A combination of these vascular assessments may help improve accuracy in diagnosis, providing timely care to those patients in need.

Through Thick or Thin: Disparities in Perioperative Anticoagulant Use in Trauma Patients

Although vascular surgery guidelines recommend immediate anticoagulation for acute occlusion of a peripheral artery, it is unclear whether trauma surgeons follow this practice. A survey regarding the use of perioperative anticoagulation was sent to surgeons who perform their own peripheral arterial repairs after traumatic injury to define contemporary practice patterns. This survey demonstrated minimal consensus opinion regarding the management of extremity vascular injuries, strongly suggesting the need for a consensus conference, meta-analysis, and prospective studies to guide further care.

Biomarkers of Muscle Metabolism in Peripheral Artery Disease: A Dynamic NIRS-Assisted Study to Detect Adaptations Following Revascularization and Exercise Training

We assessed whether muscle metabolism biomarkers (MMb) identified by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are valid for determining adaptations following revascularization or exercise training in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Eighteen patients (males n = 13; 69 ± 7 years) were randomized to receive revascularization (Rev = 6) or pain-free home-based exercise (Ex = 12). MMb were safely collected via a NIRS-assisted treadmill test as area-under-curve for the spectra of oxygenated (-oxy), deoxygenated (-deoxy), differential (-diff) and total (-tot) hemoglobin traces. MMb, ankle–brachial index (ABI), pain-free (PFWD) and 6-min (6MWD) walking distances were assessed at baseline and after four months. MMb were correlated at baseline with ABI (MMb-oxy r = 0.46) and 6MWD (MMb-tot r = 0.51). After treatments, MMb-oxy showed an expected increase, which was more relevant for Rev group than the Ex (56% vs. 20%), with trends towards normalization for the other MMb. These changes were significantly correlated with variations in ABI (MMb-oxy r = 0.71; p = 0.002) and 6MWD (MMb-tot r = 0.58; p = 0.003). The MMb-diff in Rev group and MMb-deoxy in Ex group at baseline predicted clinical outcomes being correlated with PFWD improvements after 4-month (r = −0.94; p = 0.005 and r = −0.57; p = 0.05, respectively). A noninvasive NIRS-based test, feasible in a clinical setting, identified muscle metabolism biomarkers in PAD. The novel MMb were associated with validated outcome measures, selectively modified after different interventions and able to predict long-term functional improvements after surgery or exercise training.

Did the Clinical Spectrum of Thromboangiitis Obliterans Change in the Past 40 Years?

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is an inflammatory disease that usually affects small and medium-sized arteries in the upper and lower limbs of young smokers. Previous studies showed that the spectrum TAO has changed in the 80s: the male-to-female ratio decreased, older patients were diagnosed, and upper limb involvement was more common. The aim of our study was to assess the changing clinical spectrum of TAO in France during the past 40 years. All consecutive patients fulfilling TAO's criteria between January 1967 and January 2016 were retrospectively included in 3 departments of internal medicine. We compared TAO features in patients diagnosed before and after 2002; 141 (77.5%) men and 41 (22.5%) women were included. Patients diagnosed after 2002 were older (37 [31-39] vs 34 [29-35] years P = .03), had a more frequent isolated upper limb involvement (34.3% vs 7.8% P = .001), and less frequent isolated lower limb involvement (55.7% vs 74.5%, P < .001). The clinical spectrum of TAO has changed in France since the beginning of the 21st century.

Comparative 12-Month Outcomes of Drug-Coated Balloon Versus Non-Drug-Coated Balloon Revascularization Strategy in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: Results From the XLPAD Registry

BACKGROUND

Endovascular therapy is often the preferred first treatment option for chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) patients. Drug coated balloons (DCB) reduce restenosis rates compared to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), however DCB use has not been studied systematically in patients with CLTI. Thus, the optimal treatment option for these complex lesions remains controversial.

METHODS

We report on 327 patients with CLTI treated either with DCB (n = 105) or non-DCB (n = 222) for femoropopliteal disease. Data were retrieved from the Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD) registry (NCT01904851). Two DCB types were used at the discretion of the operator: Lutonix® (BARD Peripheral Vascular, Inc., Tempe, AZ, USA) and IN.PACT AdmiralTM (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, CA, USA). Odds ratios and the respective 95% confidence interval were synthesized to examine the association between the two groups in terms of all-cause mortality, target limb repeat endovascular or surgical revascularization, target vessel revascularization (TVR), major and minor amputation at 12 months of follow up.

RESULTS

The mean lesion length was 150.0 mm (SD:123.2) and 151.2 mm (SD:108.3) for the DCB and non-DCB group respectively. No difference between the two groups was detected in terms of all-cause mortality (2.86%vs2.7%,p = .94), target limb repeat endovascular or surgical revascularization (16.19%vs12.61%,p = .25), TVR (16.19%vs.11.71%,p = .26) or minor amputation (15.24%vs10.81%,p = .25) at 12 months of follow up. Although a higher incidence of 12 months major amputation was observed in the DCB group (11%vs.4%,p = .01), after adjusting for several risk factors the odds of major amputation were not statistically different between the DCB and non-DCB groups (OR:1.54;95%CI:0.53-4.51;p = .43).

CONCLUSIONS

Both DCB and non-DCB strategies are effective modalities for revascularization of patients with CLTI. No differences were identified between the DCB and non-DCB group in terms of late outcomes during 12 months of follow up.

Redox Regulation via Glutaredoxin-1 and Protein S-Glutathionylation

Significance: Over the past several years, oxidative post-translational modifications of protein cysteines have been recognized for their critical roles in physiology and pathophysiology. Cells have harnessed thiol modifications involving both oxidative and reductive steps for signaling and protein processing. One of these stages requires oxidation of cysteine to sulfenic acid, followed by two reduction reactions. First, glutathione (reduced glutathione [GSH]) forms a S-glutathionylated protein, and second, enzymatic or chemical reduction removes the modification. Under physiological conditions, these steps confer redox signaling and protect cysteines from irreversible oxidation. However, oxidative stress can overwhelm protein S-glutathionylation and irreversibly modify cysteine residues, disrupting redox signaling. Critical Issues: Glutaredoxins mainly catalyze the removal of protein-bound GSH and help maintain protein thiols in a highly reduced state without exerting direct antioxidant properties. Conversely, glutathione S-transferase (GST), peroxiredoxins, and occasionally glutaredoxins can also catalyze protein S-glutathionylation, thus promoting a dynamic redox environment. Recent Advances: The latest studies of glutaredoxin-1 (Glrx) transgenic or knockout mice demonstrate important distinct roles of Glrx in a variety of pathologies. Endogenous Glrx is essential to maintain normal hepatic lipid homeostasis and prevent fatty liver disease. Further, in vivo deletion of Glrx protects lungs from inflammation and bacterial pneumonia-induced damage, attenuates angiotensin II-induced cardiovascular hypertrophy, and improves ischemic limb vascularization. Meanwhile, exogenous Glrx administration can reverse pathological lung fibrosis. Future Directions: Although S-glutathionylation modifies many proteins, these studies suggest that S-glutathionylation and Glrx regulate specific pathways in vivo, and they implicate Glrx as a potential novel therapeutic target to treat diverse disease conditions. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 32, 677-700.

Current opinions about the definition of critical limb ischemia: A debate still open after three decades

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most advanced stage of peripheral arterial disease. It is clinically defined as rest pain with or without skin ulcer or gangrene and carries a very poor prognosis with a high rates of limb amputation and cardiovascular mortality. Despite the first definition of CLI has been published more than 30 years ago, the debate about what it really is, is still open. Over the years the hemodynamic parameters utilised to define the critical level of limb perfusion have changed. This has raised some question about the apparent confusion about the definition of CLI. Moreover, a new term such as "limb threatening ischemia" has replaced the definition of CLI in recent guideline. Therefore, it becomes necessary to understand the evolution of the concept and the definition of CLI, to interpret the future trend.Hence, this work analysing the guideline documents on peripheral arterial disease that have defined the CLI to date, aims to clarify the path that has brought to the current conceptual changes of the definition of CLI.

Changes in exercise capacity and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease: a 10-year retrospective cohort study

We retrospectively studied the association between changes in exercise capacity at discharge from a home-based exercise program and the risk of all-cause mortality among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and claudication. The records of 1076 consecutive PAD patients were assessed between 2003 and 2013. The exercise program was prescribed during a few visits and executed at home at symptom-free walking speed. Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and maximal speed (S_max) on an incremental treadmill test were recorded at baseline and discharge. The number and date of deaths and hospitalizations for a 10-year period were collected from the regional registry. A total of 865 PAD patients completed the program (completers), while 221 left the program for health reasons (n = 128, diseased) or for nonhealth reasons (n = 83, quitters). Among the completers, the mortality rate (27%) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of both the diseased (49 deaths, 38%) and the quitters (45 deaths, 54%). The completers (71 ± 9 years; 88% exercise sessions completed) showed significant improvements in the lowest ABI (from 0.62 ± 0.18 to 0.67 ± 0.19) and S_max (from 3.3 ± 1.1 to 3.8 ± 1.1 km h^-1) at discharge. The completers who reached the clinically important difference of S_max ≥ 0.4 km h^-1 at follow-up showed a significantly lower mortality risk (25% vs. 30%; HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.55-0.93) as well a lower rate of hospitalizations (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in PAD patients, active participation in a home-based exercise program was associated with a lower rate of death and better long-term clinical outcomes, particularly for those who attained a moderate increase in exercise capacity.

Sulodexide improves pain-free walking distance in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Peripheral arterial disease is associated with very high cardiovascular risk. The main symptom is intermittent claudication, which strongly affects the quality of life. Therefore, treatment goals in peripheral arterial disease consist of the reduction of cardiovascular events and the relief of symptoms. An increase in pain-free walking distance, evaluated based on the Initial Claudication Distance, was also a strong positive prognostic factor in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Our objective was to reassess whether sulodexide is effective in improving Initial Claudication Distance. For this, we searched the literature according to the PRISMA checklist for double blind clinical trials assessing the improvement in the Initial Claudication Distance after 90 days of standard therapeutic regimen with sulodexide in adult patients with peripheral arterial disease. We found and assessed for bias in 11 studies eligible for review and meta-analysis. Data extracted from those studies favoured the sulodexide group, showing an overall difference in Initial Claudication Distance of +68.9 (CI 95%; ± 11.9 m) at the end of treatment (p < 0.001). According to this review, sulodexide is effective in improving Initial Claudication Distance and consequently the quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of this drug on disease progression in asymptomatic patients with peripheral arterial disease.

A meta-analysis on anticoagulation after vascular trauma

Purpose

There is much debate regarding the use of anticoagulation following vascular trauma. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the outcome of trauma following administration of anticoagulation medication.

Methods

The literature search was carried out using Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed databases to search for keywords and MeSH terms including “Anticoagulation”, “Vascular Surgery”, “Vascular Trauma”, “Vascular Repair”, “Repair” and “Wounds and Injuries”.

Results

Use of anticoagulation was associated with a better prognosis for overall vascular trauma outcomes (weighted OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.34–0.64; P < 0.00001), as well as reduced risk of amputation for both lower and upper limb vascular trauma (weighted OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.22–0.78; P = 0.007), and reduced occurrence of reoperation events and amputations in isolated lower limb vascular trauma (weighted OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.14–0.52; P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

There was a statistically significant correlation between the use of anticoagulation and vascular trauma outcome. A major limitation with many of the studies includes a lack of prospective analysis and therefore we recommend prospective studies to properly elucidate prognostic outcomes following use of these anticoagulants. Further studies need to be conducted to assess the effects of timing of anticoagulant delivery, dosages and severity of traumatic injury. Thus, this would prove to be very useful in the formation of guidelines.

Pathophysiology of chronic peripheral ischemia: new perspectives

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects individuals particularly over 65 years old in the more advanced countries. Hemodynamic, inflammatory, and oxidative mechanisms interact in the pathophysiological scenario of this chronic arterial disease. We discuss the hemodynamic, muscle tissue, and oxidative stress (OxS) conditions related to chronic ischemia of the peripheral arteries. This review summarizes the results of evaluating both metabolic and oxidative markers, and also therapy to counteract OxS. In conclusion, we believe different pathways should be highlighted to discover new drugs to treat patients suffering from PAD.

Detecting Peripheral Arterial Disease in Primary Care: A Population Based Study

BACKGROUND

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can progress silently without any clinical symptoms. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the recommended method used in primary care. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD and its related risk factors in primary care.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 250 participants aged ≥45 years were recruited randomly from the registered patients of family health center in a district of Izmir, Turkey. Patients' demographic data, PAD symptoms, and PAD risk factors were obtained. The PAD group consisted of patients with ABI levels <0.9; the non-compressible artery (NCA) group consisted of patients with ABI levels >1.3.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PAD was 17.6% (22.5% in women and 11.1% in men), while that of NCA was 15.2% (12.7% in women and 25.0% in men). About 27.3% and 54.5% of patients with PAD did not have claudication and problems with walking distance, respectively. Of the NCA patients, 15.8% had problems with walking distance and 39.5% had claudication. Regression analysis revealed two predictors of PAD (age ≥65 years: odds ratio [OR], 3.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65-7.47; claudication: OR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.58-7.39) and three predictors of NCA (age <65 years: OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.01-6.45; male sex: OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.10-5.25; triglyceride [TG] >200 mg/dL: OR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.58-10.67).

CONCLUSION

PAD had a prevalence of 17.6% and was associated with age ≥65 years and claudication. NCA had a prevalence of 15.2% and was associated with age <65 years, TG >200 mg/dL, and male sex.

Hypoxia-Induced miR-210 Is Necessary for Vascular Regeneration upon Acute Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia is the most serious form of peripheral artery disease, characterized by severe functional consequences, difficult clinical management and reduced life expectancy. The goal of this study was to investigate the miR-210 role in the neo-angiogenic response after acute limb ischemia. Complementary approaches were used in a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia: miR-210 loss-of-function was obtained by administration of LNA-oligonucleotides anti-miR-210; for miR-210 gain-of-function, a doxycycline-inducible miR-210 transgenic mouse was used. We tested miR-210 ability to stimulate vascular regeneration following ischemia. We found that miR-210 was necessary and sufficient to stimulate blood perfusion recovery, as well as arteriolar and capillary density increase, in the ischemic muscle. To clarify the molecular events underpinning miR-210 pro-angiogenic action, the transcriptomic changes in ischemic muscles upon miR-210 blocking were analyzed. We found that miR-210 impacted the transcriptome significantly, regulating pathways and functions linked to vascular regeneration. In agreement with a pro-angiogenic role, miR-210 also improved cardiac function and left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. Moreover, miR-210 blocking decreased capillary density in a Matrigel plug assay, indicating that miR-210 is necessary for angiogenesis independently of ischemia. Collectively, these data indicate that miR-210 plays a pivotal role in promoting vascular regeneration.