Massive organ embolization from primary aortic thrombosis

A 49-year-old woman was hospitalized for acute left foot arterial ischemia. Arterial Doppler revealed occlusion of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries. A computed tomography angiography performed to assess abdominal pain showed hepatic, splenic, renal and pancreatic infarctions. A splenic artery embolism and a small aortic wall thrombus at the celiac trunk were identified. No radiological signs of aortic atherosclerosis were found. No predisposing conditions for secondary aortic thrombosis or intracardiac embolic sources were detected. It was determined that primary aortic thrombosis, a rare though potentially serious condition, was to blame. Isolated aortic mural thrombosis therapy is not well established, although systemic anticoagulation, thrombolysis, thromboaspiration, endovascular stent grafting and surgical thrombectomy have been attempted with varying success. In our patient, systemic anticoagulation therapy was initiated and resulted in aortic thrombus resolution. Close clinical follow-up is crucial, as the aortic thrombus can recur despite anticoagulation and aggressive control of the atherosclerotic risk factors.     

Evaluation of serum cathepsin D concentrations in coronary artery disease

BackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) cannot be sufficiently explained by the presence of traditional risk factors. Cathepsin D has been proposed to serve as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis but its alterations in CAD patients have not been studied.ObjectiveTo evaluate serum cathepsin D concentrations in relation to the presence and severity of CAD.Materials and methodsA total of 104 subjects were recruited; 71 patients with suspected CAD and 33 healthy subjects. Thirty-four patients had >50% coronary stenosis of at least one artery (CAD+); the remaining 37 patients had <50% stenosis (CAD−) based on angiography. CAD+ patients were sub-divided into three sub-groups with single (SVD; n = 15), double (2VD; n = 9), and triple vessel (3VD; n = 10) disease. Serum soluble cathepsin D concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsSerum cathepsin D concentrations were significantly higher in the CAD+ compared with healthy control (p = 0.016) but not CAD− group (p = 0.098). Within the CAD+ group, patients with 3VD had significantly higher serum cathepsin D concentrations compared with the SVD group (p = 0.025), and also compared with the CAD− (p = 0.011) and SVD (p = 0.001) groups. No significant associations were found between serum cathepsin D concentrations and potential confounders including age, sex, blood pressure, smoking history and dyslipidemia.ConclusionSerum cathepsin D concentrations may be associated with the presence of CAD.     

Successful coronary angiography with adequate image acquisition using a combination of gadolinium and a power injector in a patient with severe iodine contrast allergy

A history of severe allergic reaction to iodine contrast leading to anaphylactic shock presents a dilemma in patients requiring cardiac catheterization. As an alternative, gadolinium has been an interesting and potentially useful agent. However, gadolinium produces poor image quality and has been associated with significant arrhythmias in small case series. Furthermore, there is no consensus about the maximal allowable dose that can be administered to a patient. In the present report, a successful combination of gadolinium contrast with a power injector that produced adequate image quality in a patient with severe allergy to iodine contrast is described. The case was complicated by the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation when damping occurred during injection of contrast into the right coronary artery. This complication has been reported previously with intracoronary gadolinium injection. The report is followed by a brief literature review.     

Dyna CT与Embolization Guidance技术在前列腺动脉栓塞中的应用

目的探讨Dyna CT与Embolization Guidance技术在前列腺动脉栓塞中的应用。方法收集我科使用SIEMENS Artis Zeego数字减影血管造影机检查和图像采集进行前列腺动脉栓塞的38例患者,用Dyna CT技术明确前列腺癌供血动脉与其他侧支的情况,Embolization Guidance技术指导进行安全性的前列腺癌供血动脉栓塞。结果 38例患者经两名高年资主任医师指导分别进行前列腺癌动脉栓塞术。Dyna CT联合DSA确认前列腺动脉65侧,比例达85.5%(65/76),其中24例患者显示双侧前列腺动脉,10例确认单侧前列腺动脉;前列腺动脉开口起源于髂内动脉38条,起源于闭孔动脉11条,起源于膀胱下动脉9条,起源于阴部内动脉5条,起源于直肠下动脉2条。利用Embolization Guidance技术完成前列腺动脉栓塞89.2%(58/65),其中24例患者完成双侧栓塞,10例完成单侧栓塞,4例因血管迂曲不能进行超选择栓塞。结论 Dyna CT联合Embolization Guidance技术能够准确地显示前列腺优势供血动脉,在前列腺动脉栓塞治疗中具有重要的应用价值。