Endothelial reactivity and cardiac risk factors in older patients with peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Endothelium-dependent vasoreactivity, which is advocated as a measure of vascular health, is impaired in persons with cardiac risk factors and coronary artery disease. Few studies have examined the degree of endothelial dysfunction in patients with PAD. Using high-resolution external vascular ultrasound, we measured brachial artery diameter and flow at rest, and in response to reactive hyperemia (flow-mediated dilation) in 50 older patients (age 69 +/- 1 year) with PAD (ankle-to-brachial artery index of 0.67 +/- 0.03), and 50 age-matched non-PAD patients. Coronary artery disease was more prevalent in PAD than in non-PAD patients (40% vs 4%, p <0.001). Systolic blood pressure (153 +/- 4 vs 141 +/- 3 mm Hg, p <0.01), fasting glucose (129 +/- 6 vs 109 +/- 5 mg/dl, p <0.001), and pack-years smoked (54 +/- 7 vs 25 +/- 3, p <0.01) were higher in the PAD than in non-PAD patients. There were no differences in baseline brachial artery diameter, blood velocity, or flow between the 2 groups. However, the 1-minute postocclusion percent change in diameter (6.5 +/- 0.7% vs 9.8 +/- 0.7%, p <0.001) and the change in diameter (0.22 +/- 0.02 vs 0.33 +/- 0.02 mm, p <0.001) were lower in PAD than in non-PAD patients, suggesting impaired endothelium-dependent dilation. The postocclusion hyperemic velocity and blood flow were also lower in PAD than in non-PAD patients. In multiple regression analyses the low-density lipoprotein-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, elevated fasting glucose, and high systolic blood pressure were independent predictors of percent change in brachial artery diameter (r2 = 0.37, p <0.001). Thus, older patients with PAD had impaired endothelial dependent vasodilation compared with controls that was associated with the presence of cardiac risk factors. The effect of cardiac risk factor intervention on endothelial function in patients with PAD remains to be determined.     

Evaluation of cell salvage autotransfusion utility during liver transplantation

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may be associated with massive blood loss and the need for allogenic blood product transfusions. Cell salvage autotransfusion (CS) is an attractive alternative to allogenic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. However, controversy surrounds its usefulness during OLT; some studies stated that CS decreased transfusions of allogenic blood products and others stated that blood loss was increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the CS during OLT. Patients and methods: After approval by the institutional ethics committee, a prospective survey was undertaken. A total of 150 consecutive OLTs were included in the study. Two groups of patients were formed. Period 1 included patients 1–75 with no CS use. Period 2 comprised patients 76–150 with systematic CS use. Results: Patients from both periods were comparable. CS was used in all cases in period 2, and there was enough salvaged blood to retransfuse 65% of these OLTs. The mean volume of retransfused blood was 338±339 ml. The transfusion rate did not change from period 1 to period 2. The mean number of RBC units transfused per patient was 0.4±0.9 vs 0.4±1.2 with 78.7% vs 81.3% of cases not receiving transfusion of any blood product. The threshold for RBC transfusions was the same. The length of surgery and blood loss were greater in period 2 than in period 1 (associated with the arrival of two junior surgeons), but the hemoglobin (Hb) value was also higher at the end of surgery (93.8±19.3 g/L vs 85.2±17.8 g/L, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Despite increased blood loss in period 2, CS saved 21 g/L of Hb per patient or two RBC unit transfusions. As long as we cannot predict with accuracy which patients will bleed, we will continue to use the CS for all OLTs.     

Inflammatory status and endothelial function in asymptomatic and symptomatic peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a predictor of cardiovascular risk. However, it is unknown whether PAD severity influences inflammatory status and endothelial function, which play a major role in atherosclerosis. Accordingly, we measured brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and plasma levels of several inflammatory markers in 15 control subjects, and 19 asymptomatic and 19 symptomatic PAD patients. Each symptomatic patient was matched to an asymptomatic patient for age, sex, risk factors, presence of cardiovascular disease, and pharmacological treatments. Asymptomatic patients had similar inflammatory profiles as controls, but lower median FMD (11.7% vs 8.5%, p < 0.01). Compared with asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients had higher median C-reactive protein (1.5 mg/l vs 6.0 mg/l, p < 0.05) and interleukine-6 (1.5 pg/ml vs 3.5 pg/ml, p < 0.05), and lower FMD (8.5% vs 5.1%, p < 0.01). In the 38 PAD patients, the ankle/brachial pressure index correlated positively with FMD (p < 0.01), and negatively with C-reactive protein (p < 0.05), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (p < 0.05) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (p < 0.05). Thus, in PAD, endothelial function and inflammatory status are related to the severity of the circulatory impairment. This finding may contribute to the explanation of the increasingly poor prognosis with increased PAD severity.     

Impact of Acute Blood Loss Anemia and Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Mortality after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The clinical impact of increasing levels of blood loss has been shown to increase morbidity and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The impact of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion for severe bleeding is unknown. We systematically collected baseline and 8‐h postprocedure hematocrit (HCT) values on patients undergoing PCI. The incidence of adverse events, including death and recurrent myocardial infarction, was correlated to increasing blood loss. A total of 6,799 patients undergoing PCI (January 2000 to April 2002) had serial HCT levels. Negligible, mild, moderate, and severe blood loss occurred in 43, 25, 25, and 8% of patients, respectively. In‐hospital mortality was 0.3, 0.5, 1.4, and 5.7% (p < 0.0001) with increasing severity of blood loss. Blood transfusion was independently associated with mortality (relative risk [RR] 2.03, p = 0.028). A case‐controlled analysis of 146 transfused patients versus 292 nontransfused patients with severe bleeding found an independent association between RBC transfusion and increased risk of 1‐year mortality (RR 2.42, p = 0.0045). Patients receiving blood > 35 days old had significantly worse 1‐year survival rates compared with patients receiving blood < 35 days old and patients not transfused (36 vs. 24 vs. 10%, p < 0.0001). In a general PCI population, increasing levels of blood loss are associated with an increased incidence of major adverse cardiac events and in‐hospital mortality. RBC transfusion in the setting of severe bleeding is associated with an increased risk of 1‐year mortality. Transfusion of aged RBCs may also be detrimental in this setting. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Randomized Trial of Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution Compared to Preoperative Autologous Blood Donation in Total Knee Arthroplasty

The value of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) compared to preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) in elective surgery is controversial. We therefore conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare these techniques in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. ANH patient underwent up to 4 units phlebotomy or to target hematocrit level of 28% after induction of anesthesia. PAD patients were asked to donate 1 (unilateral) or 2 (bilateral, revisions) units before admission. Mean baseline hematocrit levels were not different between ANH and PAD patients (40.6±4.1 vs. 38.4±3.4, p = 0.09). Eight (73%) of 11 patients undergoing bilateral revision procedures received a total of 22 allogeneic blood units, whereas only 3 (14%) of 21 patients undergoing primary, unilateral procedures received a total of 3 allogeneic units (p = 0.002). We found no differences in allogeneic blood transfusions between ANH and PAD cohorts for all (n = 32) patients (1.0±1.2 vs. 0.6±1.4, p = 0.45), for unilateral knee (n = 21) replacement (0.25±0.46 vs. 0.08±0.28, p = 0.29), or for bilateral/revision (n = 11) procedures (1.9±1.3 vs. 2.5±1.9, p = 0.53). We conclude that each technique is equally effective in reducing allogeneic blood exposure. Patients undergoing revision or bilateral knee arthroplasties require adjunctive therapy to autologous blood procurement to further reduce allogeneic blood exposure.     

Ethnic differences in peripheral arterial disease in the NHLBI Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study

Few studies have investigated whether ethnic groups differ in the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We compared the distribution of the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a measure of PAD, between African Americans and non-Hispanic white individuals. Subjects (n = 931) belonged to the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study, a community-based study of hypertensive sibships, and included 453 African Americans from Jackson, Mississipi (mean age 72 +/- 6 years, 69% women) and 478 non-Hispanic white individuals from Rochester, Minnesota (mean age 58 +/- 7 years, 64% women). ABI was determined at two sites in each lower extremity and the lowest of four indices was used in the analyses. PAD was defined as an ABI of < or = 0.95. Information about conventional risk factors was derived from interviews and from blood samples drawn at the study visit. The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was significantly higher in African Americans than in non-Hispanic white individuals. After adjusting for age, African American subjects had a lower mean ABI (women 0.97 vs 1.04, p < 0.001; men 0.96 vs 1.12, p < 0.001) and a greater prevalence of PAD (women 34% vs 22%, p = 0.010; men 33% vs 11%, p < 0.001) than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. In multiple regression analyses, African American ethnicity was a predictor of a lower ABI and the presence of PAD in each sex after adjusting for age and other conventional risk factors. In conclusion, the lower ABI and greater prevalence of PAD in African Americans than in non-Hispanic white individuals is not explained by differences in conventional risk factors. Identifying additional 'novel' risk factors that account for the ethnic differences in PAD is an important next step towards understanding why such differences exist and developing more effective strategies to reduce the burden of PAD.     

Determinants of Physician Ordering of Preoperative Autologous Donations

Preoperative autologous donation (PAD) is frequently utilized to reduce infectious disease transmission risks, but it is an expensive form of hemotherapy that is not always closely matched with the needs of the patients. We compared the use of PAD in an academic medical center with patient needs and then investigated the efficacy of a simple intervention to promote targeting of PAD toward patients most likely to benefit from having PADs available. Over a 3-month period, surgeons whose patients received allogeneic components were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to identify reasons for not ordering PAD. PAD units were used in 14 (11%) of 124 cases, accounting for 6% of perioperative red cell use. The responses (46, 42% of the surveys sent) stated that PAD had not been ordered because of time constraints (39%), medical problems (26%), anemia (15%), and lack of expectation of blood use (24%). Chart review documented the presence of cited conditions in 88% of cases. Logistic and cost concerns were not evident. However, only 8% of the 176 PAD units collected in that period were transfused. Following dissemination of PAD ordering guidelines, this proportion rose to 52% without a reduction in the proportion of elective surgical cases utilizing autologous transfusion. This improvement in ordering practice was maintained over at least in 5-month period. Thus we were able to improve the efficiency of PAD application (reducing over-ordering) through a simple feedback to surgeons that assisted them in targeting PAD toward patients most likely to need transfusion.     

Prevalence of risk factors in patients with peripheral arterial disease. A clinical and epidemiological evaluation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and other risk factors in patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in two clinical samples (1.: 102 patients with PAD 69 M, 33 F, studied in our angiology laboratory, matched for sex and age with 102 healthy volunteers; 2.: 184 hospitalized patients, 80 M, 104 F, mean age 57.2 +/- 10.8, with PAD) and in two epidemiological cohorts (1.: Trabia Study, 835 subjects; 2.: Casteldaccia Study, 723 subjects). All patients were subjected to a full clinical and laboratory examination, including the determination of the ankle/arm pressure ratio (Winsor index, positive for PAD when lower than 0.95). In the first clinical study we observed a significantly (p < 0.01) greater prevalence of arterial hypertension (51.9 vs 9.8%), hypercholesterolemia (48.2 vs 21.6%), hypertriglyceridemia (53.7 vs 26.1%), smoking habit (64.3 vs 44.2%), and hyperglycemia (26 vs 7,9%) in PAD patients than in controls. In the second clinical study considering separately the patients under and over 65 years, all risk factors resulted to be more prevalent in younger people than in the aged, except for diabetes and hypertension. In our epidemiological experience, the prevalence of PAD increases with aging, above all in males. In the Trabia Study the risk factors, more associated with PAD, were hypercholesterolemia, smoking and obesity (41.18%) in males and hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (33.3%) and obesity (25%) in females. In the Casteldaccia Study the most important risk factors were smoking (64.28%), hypercholesterolemia (42.86%) and hypertriglyceridemia (35.71%) in males, and obesity (60%), hypercholesterolemia (30%) and diabetes (20%) in females. Cholesterol levels and smoking were significantly higher in PAD patients than in the general population, whereas hypertriglyceridemia and glycemia were not. Arterial hypertension was significantly associated with PAD in the Trabia but not in the Casteldaccia Study. Obesity was significantly associated to PAD in females in both studies. In the Casteldaccia Study, lower HDL-cholesterol levels were observed in PAD patients, above all in males, whereas significantly greater Apo-B values and lower Apo-A1 levels (in males) were shown. The different levels of associated risk factors and their prevalence in PAD patients confirm the multifactorial pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The exact role of each risk factor in the genesis of PAD is difficult to be evaluated due to the complex biological and statistical interrelationships among different risk factors. However, the management of associated risk factors may favourably influence the risk profile in each patient suffering from PAD.     

Fresh-frozen plasma and platelet transfusions are associated with development of acute lung injury in critically ill medical patients

BACKGROUND: Transfusion has long been identified as a risk factor for acute lung injury (ALI)/ARDS. No study has formally evaluated the transfusion of specific blood products as a risk factor for ALI/ARDS in critically ill medical patients. METHOD: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 841 consecutive critically ill patients were studied for the development of ALI/ARDS. Patients who received blood product transfusions were compared with those who did not, in univariate and multivariate propensity analyses. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-eight patients (35%) received blood transfusions. Transfused patients were older (mean [+/- SD] age, 67 +/- 17 years vs 62 +/- 19 years; p < 0.001) and had higher acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) III scores (74 +/- 32 vs 58 +/- 23; p < 0.001) than those who had not received transfusions. ALI/ARDS developed more commonly (25% vs 18%; p = 0.025) in patients exposed to transfusion. Seventeen patients received massive RBC transfusions (ie, > 10 U of blood transfused within 24 h), of whom 13 also received fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) and 11 received platelet transfusions. When adjusted for the probability of transfusion and other ALI/ARDS risk factors, any transfusion was associated with the development of ALI/ARDS (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24 to 3.75). Among those patients receiving individual blood products, ALI/ARDS was more likely to develop in patients who received FFP transfusions (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.29 to 4.74) and platelet transfusions (OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.36 to 11.52) than in those who received only RBC transfusions (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.79 to 2.43). CONCLUSION: Transfusion is associated with an increased risk of the development of ALI/ARDS in critically ill medical patients. The risk is higher with transfusions of plasma-rich blood products, FFP, and platelets, than with RBCs.     

Peripheral arterial disease, acute coronary syndromes, and early invasive management: the TACTICS TIMI 18 trial

BACKGROUND: Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represent a high-risk patient subset in the setting of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS). The efficacy and safety of early invasive management for such patients remains unclear. Hypothesis: Early invasive management would be well tolerated and effective among patients with NSTE ACS and PAD. METHODS: Patients from the Treat angina with Aggrastat and determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TACTICS-TIMI) 18 trial were stratified by the presence or absence of PAD and assessed with respect to baseline clinical factors. The outcomes of patients with PAD and NSTE ACS were examined with respect to treatment assignment to either early invasive therapy or conservative treatment of NSTE ACS. Finally, the bleeding and stroke rates of patients with PAD managed invasively were compared with patients with PAD managed conservatively. RESULTS: Of 2219 patients with NSTE ACS overall, 166 (7.5%) had concomitant PAD. Compared with those patients without PAD, those with PAD were older (75 vs. 62 years, p < 0.001) and were more likely to have high-risk clinical features, including prior histories of bypass surgery (39 vs. 20%, p < 0.001) or diabetes mellitus (38 vs. 27%, p = 0.002), and more ST-segment depression on their 12-lead electrocardiogram (43 vs. 29%, p < 0.001). Among such patients, early invasive management was associated with significant reductions in the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) at 30 days (11.4 vs. 2.3%, p = 0.03). At 180 days, compared with early conservative management, early invasive treatment for patients with PAD and NSTE ACS was associated with similar reductions in MI (12.7 vs. 3.5%, p = 0.04), and was also accompanied by significant reductions in risk of death (10.1 vs. 2.3%, p = 0.05). No excess in bleeding or stroke rates was noted among patients with PAD managed invasively. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with NSTE ACS and a history of PAD, early invasive management is well tolerated and accompanied by significant reductions in morbidity and mortality when compared with a more conservative, ischemia-driven approach.     

踝肱指数在2型糖尿病外周动脉疾病中的应用

目的评价踝肱指数在2型糖尿病伴外周动脉疾病诊断中的意义。方法486例2型糖尿病患者按踝肱指数<0.9和≥0.9分为外周动脉疾病组和不伴外周动脉疾病组,比较两组的临床特征,并分析与踝肱指数相关的因素,确定2型糖尿病伴外周动脉疾病的危险因素。结果外周动脉疾病组平均年龄、糖尿病病程和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平显著高于不伴外周动脉疾病组(分别为62.09±10.53岁比56.77±9.83岁、86.90±51.94月比57.91±57.64月及3.07±1.01mmol/L比2.71±0.98mmol/L;P<0.05或P<0.01),踝肱指数显著低于不伴外周动脉疾病组(0.77±0.15比1.08±0.15,P<0.01)。Pearson相关分析显示,踝肱指数与年龄(r=-0.159,P=0.01)和总胆固醇(r=-0.161,P=0.01)负相关。Logistic回归分析显示,年龄、病程、收缩压和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇是2型糖尿病伴外周动脉疾病的危险因素,腰臀比是其发病的保护因素。结论踝肱指数是筛查2型糖尿病外周动脉疾病的简单易行又可靠的指标,年龄、病程、收缩压、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇是2型糖尿病患者踝肱指数降低的危险因素。     

High rate of hepatitis C virus transmission to spouses from hepatitis patients with a history of transfusion

Spouses of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-viremic chronic hepatitis patients were tested for antibodies to the core region-derived synthetic oligopeptides and for antibodies detectable by the second-generation enzyme immunoassay, and HCV RNA was determined in those who were positive for at least one of the above antibodies (anti-HCV). The prevalences of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were both significantly higher in 37 spouses of patients with a history of transfusion than in 55 spouses of patients with no such history: 49% vs. 16% for anti-HCV (P < 0.01) and 41% vs. 5% for HCV RNA (P < 0.05). Anti-HCV was detected in 11 (65%) of 17 spouses who had been married longer than 30 years since the patients received the transfusion, with an incidence significantly higher than in four (20%) of 20 spouses with exposure durations less than 30 years (P < 0.001), and HCV RNA was positive in 11 (65%) of the formers, the incidence being significantly greater than in four (20%) of the latter (P < 0.05). HCV-infected patients, in particular with a history of blood transfusion, are thus possible HCV transmission sources for their spouses, with the risk increasing with the duration of marriage, pointing to a need for follow-up not only for posttransfusion hepatitis C patients, but also for early diagnosis and treatment of their spouses.     

A Single Unit of Transfused Allogeneic Blood Increases Postoperative Infections

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if there was a statistical correlation between allogeneic blood transfusion and postoperative infections, and if this could have a dose-dependent pattern. The evaluation was based on multiple logistic and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses. On hospital admission the following parameters were determined in 267 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer: hemoglobin, serum albumin, serum cholinesterase activity, total iron binding capacity and weight loss. Duration of operation, operative blood loss, amount of transfused blood, Dukes’ cancer stage and occurrence of postoperative infections were also recorded. One hundred and thirty-two patients (49.4%) were given perioperatively allogeneic blood. Postoperative infections developed in 47 (17.6%) patients. Multivariate analysis identified allogeneic blood transfusion as the only variable related to the occurrence of postoperative infections (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the risk for the occurrence of infection was significantly higher in patients transfused one unit of blood (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant trend between increasing number of transfused blood units and susceptibility to infection was found (p < 0.00019).     

Autologous blood transfusion in elective heart surgery: prospective study of 189 consecutive patients

Blood autotransfusion has entered a new phase in blood transfusion technique, since it represents an important alternative in eliminating the risks connected with blood transfusion: viral hepatitis, AIDS, blood transfusion reactions, and alloimmunization. Transfusion requirements during cardiac surgical procedures have steadily decreased; nowadays most adult patients require no transfusion during surgery. Patients (pts) receiving bank-blood may develop infectious diseases (hepatitis, AIDS, etc.). We have studied how to avoid the risk of infections with homologous blood transfusions. We present our experience of day-hospital pre-operative autologous blood collection. One-hundred-eighty-nine patients undergoing primary myocardial revascularization or valvular replacement were submitted to the drainage of 350 ml of blood three times every four days before surgery. The blood was centrifuged at once, to separate red cells from plasma. Surgeries were performed 21 days after the first drainage; iron therapy was recommended. After surgery pts received blood only if haematocrit was lower than 28%. The following data were recorded: no. of pts who received homologous blood; blood loss and homologous total blood volume used for each pt. Average blood loss was 1230 cc for ischemic pts and 701 cc for valvular pts. Non-A non B hepatitis occurred in 3/189 pts (1.5%). All of them had received homologous blood transfusions. Our data show clearly that autotransfused pts had a better post-operative period; less bank-blood and fewer transfusions have been used. No pt had collateral effects such as angina or hypotension from blood drawing. Our data show that severe cardiac diseases do not represent an absolute contraindication to heavy blood drainage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Predictors of homologous blood transfusion for patients undergoing open heart surgery

OBJECTIVE: It has become very important to avoid homologous blood transfusions in today's cardiac surgery. We performed a retrospective analysis to find out preoperative factors to predict the risk for transfusion of red-cell concentrate in cardiac surgery. METHODS: This study included 400 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. We also included emergency (4 %) and re-operations (8 %). We tried to find out predictive factors for the need of transfusion of red-cell concentrate on the base of logistic regression coefficient and the odds ratio. We looked at the following factors as predictors of transfusion risk: left ventricular ejection fraction < 0.35, age over 70 years, preoperative hemoglobin < 11 g/dl, insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), emergency operation, female sex, impaired renal function (creatinine > 1.6 mg/dl), and re-operation. RESULTS: In our group, 132 (33 %) patients received transfusion during hospitalization, while 268 (67 %) did not. On average, 2.2 +/- 0.68 units of red-cell concentrate were transfused per patient. In addition, we found a predictive value for transfusion for the following parameters: age > 70 years, preoperative hemoglobin < 11 g/dl, re-operation and ejection fraction < 0.35. We could not find any significantly increased blood transfusion risk in female cases, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or impaired renal function. CONCLUSIONS: We could show that there is normally no need for blood transfusion in (2/3) of the patients in cardiac surgery according to this study's results. Furthermore, it was obvious that some patient variables can be used predict the risk for perioperative transfusion. Based on these results, the prophylactic administration of aprotinin or the use of a cell saver could be useful in selected patients.     

Atherosclerotic Risk Factors Are Less Intensively Treated in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease Than in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of therapy for atherosclerotic risk factors between patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred forty-nine consecutive patients diagnosed with PAD or CAD identified from the blood flow and cardiac catheterization laboratories, respectively. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participants were interviewed by telephone for medical history as well as therapies prescribed and recommended by their physicians. Among patients with hypercholesterolemia, more CAD patients were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs (58% vs 46%, p = .08) and more CAD patients recalled a physician's instruction to follow a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet (94% vs 83%, p = .01). CAD patients were more likely to exercise regularly (71% vs 50%, p < .01). Among patients not exercising, more CAD patients recalled a physician's advice to exercise (74% vs 47%, p < .01). In logistic regression analysis, hypercholesterolemic patients with exclusive CAD were more likely to be treated with drug therapy (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, p = .05). CAD patients were more likely to recall advice to exercise (OR 4.0, p < .001), and more likely to be taking aspirin or warfarin (OR 4.8, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Atherosclerotic risk factors are less intensively treated among PAD patients than CAD patients. A number of possible explanations could account for these disparities in therapeutic intensity.     

Impact of gender on in-hospital outcomes following contemporary percutaneous intervention for peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous peripheral arterial intervention (PPAI) has emerged as an effective and less invasive alternative to surgery for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), however, data on gender differences in outcome of PPAI, especially in the stent era, are limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the gender differences on in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing PPAI. METHODS: We analyzed data on 268 consecutive patients (women: 122; men: 146) who underwent PPAI for PAD between October 2001 and January 2004. A total of 405 lesions (women: 184; men: 221) were treated. RESULTS: Background characteristics were similar except for less prevalent prior coronary intervention in women (18.0% versus 28.8%; p = 0.04), and more prevalent current smokers in women (22.1% versus 12.3%; p = 0.03). Upper extremities interventions were performed more often in women (9.2% versus 3.2%; p = 0.01). Procedure success was achieved in 89.3% of women and 89.7% of men (p = NS). In-hospital mortality was similar between women and men (1.6% versus 0.7%; p = NS). However, hemorrhagic complications occurred more frequently in women (7.4% versus 0.7%; p = 0.006). The blood transfusion rate was significantly higher in women (6.6% versus 0.7%; p = 0.013). Female gender was the only independent predictor of hemorrhagic complications (OR = 12.2; 95% CI = 1.39-111.1; p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous intervention for PAD can be performed in women with similar success rates as in men, albeit with a greater than 10-fold higher risk of hemorrhagic complications.     

Effect of angiotensin blockade on the association between albuminuria and peripheral arterial disease in elderly Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of the clinical use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) on the association between the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in elderly Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two-hundred and ninety patients (108 men, 182 women) aged > or = 65 years (mean +/- SD, 71.6 +/-4.9) were cross-sectionally studied. ACR was expressed as the natural logarithm [ln(ACR)] and divided into normoalbuminuria (< 30.0 microg/mg) and albuminuria (> or = 30.0 microg/mg). ABI was evaluated both continuously and as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (-) and PAD (+) using the cutoff of 0.9. Statistical analyses were performed with consideration of covariates and the use of ACEI/ARB. Results showed that in patients not using ACEI/ARB, ln (ACR) negatively correlated with ABI (r = -0.261, p < 0.01) and was associated with ABI with adjusted regression coefficient of -0.0213 (p < 0.05). PAD patients had a significantly higher level of ln (ACR) than those without PAD (4.83+/-1.34 vs 3.73+/-1.29, p < 0.001) and PAD prevalence was significantly higher in those with albuminuria than in those with normoalbuminuria (22.6% vs 4.9%, p < 0.001). The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for PAD for every 1 unit increment of ln (ACR) was 2.10 (1.31-3.38), and for albuminuria vs normoalbuminuria 3.86 (1.04-14.31) in patients not using ACEI/ARB. In patients using ACEI/ARB, none of these analyses was significant. Patients using ACEI/ARB had a significantly lower risk of PAD with a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 0.34 (0.12-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: ACR negatively correlates with ABI and is associated with PAD in elderly diabetic patients not treated with ACEI/ARB. The use of ACEI/ARB attenuates this association and may be associated with a lower risk of PAD.     

Comparison of Acute Kidney Injury After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy Versus Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with extended hospital stay, a high risk of progressive chronic kidney diseases, and increased mortality. Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy are at increased risk of AKI because of intraoperative bleeding, obstructive uropathy, older age, and preexisting chronic kidney disease. In particular, robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), which is in increasing demand as an alternative surgical option for retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), is associated with postoperative renal dysfunction because pneumoperitoneum during RALP can decrease cardiac output and renal perfusion. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of postoperative AKI between RRP and RALP.We included 1340 patients who underwent RRP (n = 370) or RALP (n = 970) between 2013 and 2014. Demographics, cancer-related data, and perioperative laboratory data were evaluated. Postoperative AKI was determined according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Operation and anesthesia time, estimated blood loss, amounts of administered fluids and transfused packed red blood cells, and the lengths of the postoperative intensive care unit and hospital stays were evaluated. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to reduce the influence of possible confounding variables and adjust for intergroup differences between the RRP and RALP groups.After performing 1:1 propensity score matching, the RRP and RALP groups included 307 patients, respectively. The operation time and anesthesia time in RALP were significantly longer than in the RRP group (both P < 0.001). However, the estimated blood loss and amount of administered fluids in RALP were significantly lower than in RRP (both P < 0.001). Also, RALP demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of transfusion and smaller amount of transfused packed red blood cells than RRP (both P < 0.001). Importantly, the incidence of AKI in RALP was significantly lower than in RRP (5.5% vs 10.4%; P = 0.044). Furthermore, the length of hospital stay in RALP was also significantly shorter (P < 0.001).The incidence of AKI after RALP is significantly lower than after RRP. RALP can therefore be a better surgical option than RRP in terms of decreasing the frequency of postoperative AKI.     

Ankle brachial index as a marker of atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with high cardiovascular risk.

To obtain reliable data on the epidemiology, co-morbidities and risk factor profile of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we evaluated the clinical significance of the ankle brachial index (ABI) as an indicator of PAD in Chinese patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. ABI was measured in 5,646 Chinese patients at high CV risk, and PAD was defined as an ABI<0.9 in either leg. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PAD. A total of 5,263 patients were analyzed, 52.9% male, mean age 67.3 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 24.2 kg/m2, mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) 139/80.7 mmHg. The prevalence of PAD in the total group of patients was 25.4%, and the prevalence was higher in females than in males (27.1% vs. 23.9%; odds ratio [OR]: 1.64). Patients with PAD were older than those without PAD (72.3+/-9.9 years vs. 65.6+/-11.7 years; OR: 1.06), and more frequently had diabetes (43.3% vs. 31.3%; OR: 2.02), coronary heart disease (CHD) (27.0% vs. 18.8%; OR: 1.67), stroke (44.4% vs. 28.3%; OR: 1.78), lipid disorders (57.2% vs. 50.7%; OR: 1.3) and a smoking habit (42.7% vs. 38.6%; OR: 1.52). The ORs for the PAD group compared with the non-PAD group demonstrated that these conditions were inversely related to ABI. Statin, angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors and antiplatelet agents were only used in 40.5%, 53.6% and 69.1% of PAD patients, respectively. The data demonstrated the high prevalence and low treatment of PAD in Chinese patients at high CV risk. A lower ABI was associated with generalized atherosclerosis. Based on these findings, ABI should be a routine measurement in high risk patients. Aggressive medication was required in these patients.