POS1343 TREATMENT OF RESISTANT RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENON WITH SINGLE-PORT THORACOSCOPIC SYMPATHICOTOMY: ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Background

Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) usually results in discoloration of the extremities when provoked by cold or emotional stress [1]. Some patients do not respond to conventional therapies, such as lifestyle interventions and vasodilatory medication. These patients are confronted with limited options for treatment. In a previous study we have shown that minimally invasive Single-Port Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy (SPTS) objectively and subjectively improves treatment-resistant RP, after one month [2]. This procedure for treatment-resistant RP is minimally invasive and potentially highly effective, because it specifically targets the sympathetic nerve at the third rib (R3), while leaving the ganglia untouched [3]. The procedure was only performed on the left side in the pilot study, which objectively resulted in improvement of left-hand perfusion in all patients after one month, when compared to the right hand. Furthermore, patient satisfaction after surgery was high and RP attacks of the left hand were less frequent and of shorter duration. Previous studies have shown that long-term effects of conventional sympathectomy is stable in the long run in the majority of patients [4, 5]. We have previously published the one-month results of SPTS for treatment-resistant RP in a concise report [2]. In the current study we sought to report the one-year follow-up results of SPTS for treatment-resistant RP in the same cohort of patients.

Objectives

Follow-up of patients with treatment-resistant Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) one-year after single-port thoracoscopic sympathicotomy (SPTS).

Methods

Eight patients (six males, two females, median age of 45 years) with treatment-resistant RP underwent left-sided SPTS at the third rib (R3), unilaterally. Perfusion was assessed with a cooling and recovery procedure at baseline and one year after SPTS. Furthermore, laser speckle contrast analysis, pulse wave velocity, heart rate variability and nailfold capillaroscopy were performed. In addition, questionnaires were taken, and number and duration of RP attacks were reported over a 2-week period.

Results

One year after SPTS the duration of the attacks of was reduced with 1.9 hours in the left hand versus 0.9 hours in the right hand. Furthermore, three aspects of the questionnaire showed a significant improvement (role limitations due to physical health (p=0.017), pain (p=0.027) and physical functioning (p=0.025)). The total area under the curve of the total cooling and recovery procedure of the left hand was larger one year after surgery (101 (75–140) at baseline versus 118 (95–190) one year post-operatively, p=0.012), implying a better perfusion in the fingers. This was mainly due to the improvement during the recovery phase (21 (1–41) at baseline versus 38 (24–43) one year post-operatively, p=0.028).

Conclusion

One year after unilateral R3 SPTS there is clear benefit with regard to the majority of outcome variables, though some effects seem to attenuate. Long-term effects and five-year follow-up results will be investigated in an on-going study.

References

[1]Herrick AL. The pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of Raynaud phenomenon. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2012;8(8):469-79.

[2]van Roon AM, Kuijpers M, van de Zande SC, Abdulle AE, van Roon AM, Bos R, et al. Treatment of resistant Raynaud’s phenomenon with single-port thoracoscopic sympathicotomy: a novel minimally invasive endoscopic technique. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020;59(5):1021-5.

[3]Kuijpers M, Klinkenberg TJ, Bouma W, DeJongste MJ, Mariani MA. Single-port one-stage bilateral thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for severe hyperhidrosis: prospective analysis of a standardized approach. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2013;8:216.

[4]Coveliers HM, Hoexum F, Nederhoed JH, Wisselink W, Rauwerda JA. Thoracic sympathectomy for digital ischemia: a summary of evidence. J Vasc Surg. 2011;54(1):273-7.

[5]Sayers RD, Jenner RE, Barrie WW. Transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Eur J Vasc Surg. 1994;8(5):627-31.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Listing criteria for heart transplantation in the Netherlands

The updated listing criteria for heart transplantation are presented on behalf of the three heart transplant centres in the Netherlands. Given the shortage of donor hearts, selection of those patients who may expect to have the greatest benefit from a scarce societal resource in terms of life expectancy and quality of life is inevitable. The indication for heart transplantation includes end-stage heart disease not remediable by more conservative measures, accompanied by severe physical limitation while on optimal medical therapy, including ICD/CRT‑D. Assessment of this condition requires cardiopulmonary stress testing, prognostic stratification and invasive haemodynamic measurements. Timely referral to a tertiary centre is essential for an optimal outcome. Chronic mechanical circulatory support is being used more and more as an alternative to heart transplantation and to bridge the progressively longer waiting time for heart transplantation and, thus, has become an important treatment option for patients with advanced heart failure.

Dental arch relationships following palatoplasty for cleft lip and palate repair

Palatal scarring is assumed to be a primary cause of facial growth derangement in cleft lip and palate. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is confounded by the clinical involvement of various surgeons, and therefore definitive conclusions are not possible. In this study, we investigated the dental arch relationship in two groups, Exposed (47 children; 11.2 yrs) and Unexposed (61 children; 11.2 yrs), with a unilateral cleft lip and palate operated on by the same surgeon. The technique of hard palate repair differed between the two groups. In the Exposed group, palatal bone of the non-cleft side only was left denuded, inducing scar formation. In the Unexposed group, a vomerplasty with tight closure of the soft tissues was applied. Three raters graded the dental arch relationship and palatal morphology using the EUROCRAN Index. The dental arch relationship in the Exposed group was less favorable than in the Unexposed group (p = 0.009). Palatal morphology in both groups was comparable (p = 0.323). This study demonstrates that reduction of denuded bony areas on the palate after palatal repair with a vomer flap had a favorable effect on the dental arch relationship. For palatal morphology, no effect of the type of palatal repair was found.

Molecular studies of anti-HLA-A2 using light-chain shuffling: a structural model for HLA antibody binding

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A2 is one of the most immunodominant HLA antigens. Through a process of light-chain variable domain (VL) shuffling, we analyzed the VL domains' role in anti-HLA-A2/A28-binding site diversity. This was achieved by combining a VH3-30-encoded HLA-A2/A28-specific heavy-chain variable domain with 10(4) non-immune VL domains. Twelve HLA-A2/A28-specific antibodies were subsequently identified. VL gene analysis demonstrated an absence of Vlambda domains and that all have VkappaI-encoded light chains. The affinities correlated with the VkappaI gene present, with the seven highest affinity antibodies using Vkappa domains encoded by the O18 gene segment. A 300-fold difference in affinity was observed between the 12 antibodies, and homology modeling demonstrated a correlation between electrostatic surface potential of the antigen-binding site and affinity for HLA. Overlap between the T-cell receptor-binding site and that of the antibodies was indicated by inhibition of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte killing of peptide-pulsed target cells. A model of antibody binding to HLA-A2 suggested contact with both alpha helices of the HLA molecule, such that the antigen-binding site spans the peptide-binding groove. These data increase the understanding of antibody recognition of HLA and may facilitate the production of clonotypic antibodies with peptide-specific binding.

Dissociative experiences are related to commissions in emotional memory

Two rival hypotheses of the link between dissociative experiences and emotional memory were tested: 1) the defence mechanism hypothesis that assumes that dissociation promotes fragmentation of emotional memory; and 2) the fantasy proneness hypothesis that claims that because of its overlap with fantasy proneness, dissociation is related to commissions in emotional memory. Undergraduates scoring high (n = 19) or low (n = 19) on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) listened to an aversive story. Next, a free recall task was administered. While high dissociators made more commission errors in their free recall than did low dissociators, fantasy proneness did not account for this difference.

Cognitive performance and serotonergic function in users of ecstasy

RATIONALE

(+/-) 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy") has been shown to cause long term damage to serotonergic cerebral neurons in animals. The neurotoxic effects in humans are less clear and little is known about the functional consequences, although some studies suggest memory impairment. Given the widespread use of MDMA, our lack of knowledge raises concerns.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated, in humans, the relation between past use of ecstasy and cognitive performance as well as serotonergic function.

METHODS

Two groups of 21 males with moderate and heavy recreational use of MDMA, respectively, and a control group of 20 males without use of MDMA were compared. All were from the same subculture. Reaction time, direct recall, and recognition were assessed. Serotonergic function was measured by the neuro-endocrine response to a placebo-controlled, crossover challenge with dexfenfluramine.

RESULTS

Ecstasy users showed a broad pattern of statistically significant, but clinically small, impairment of memory and prolonged reaction times. Heavy users were affected stronger than moderate users. Release of cortisol but not of prolactin after dexfenfluramine administration was significantly reduced in both groups of ecstasy users compared with the controls. Analyses of covariance showed that likely confounding variables including recent exposure to ecstasy, psychosocial profiles and use of other drugs did not explain the differences found between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide further evidence that use of ecstasy may be associated with impairment of memory and of serotonergic function. These findings are compatible with neurotoxicity of ecstasy as shown in animals.