Hemodynamic assessment of transluminal angioplasty for lower extremity ischemia

Seventy-two patients underwent hemodynamic testing before and after treatment for occlusive disease of their lower extremities. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was used to treat lesions in 26 iliac segments and produced 23 initially improved ankle or upper thigh indices, two hemodynamic failures, and one technical failure; PTA for 54 femoropopliteal lesions produced initial hemodynamic improvement in 41 cases, three hemodynamic failures, and ten technical failures. Hemodynamic follow-up of the iliac segments showed improvement in 25 (92%) as measured by the systolic pressure index of the ankle; follow-up of the femoropopliteal segments showed continued patency of 41 (65.9%). The authors analyze these hemodynamic data.     

Small-bowel malabsorption and gastrointestinal malignancy

In addition to lymphoma, there is an increased incidence of gastrointestinal carcinoma in patients with malabsorption due to celiac disease. This is frequently manifested by a loss of response to gluten withdrawal. Four such cases are described: one patient had lymphoma and the other three had cancer of the esophagus, jejunum, and pancreas, respectively. The literature indicates that carcinoma of the esophagus and small bowel is particularly common in patients with celiac disease. These findings suggest that celiac disease should be considered a premalignant condition and that such patients should undergo a regular radiographic survey to detect early cancer.