Statins are associated with a reduced infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm growth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of statins on aneurysm growth in a group of consecutive patients under surveillance for infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients (59 statin users, 91 non-users) under surveillance between January 2002 and August 2005 with a follow-up for aneurysm growth of at least 12 months and a minimum of three diameter evaluations were retrospectively included in the analysis. Multiple regression analysis, weighted with the number of observations, was performed to test the influence of statins on AAA growth rate. RESULTS: During a median period of 3.1 (1.1-13.1) years the overall mean aneurysm growth rate was 2.95+/-2.8 mm/year. Statin users had a 1.16 mm/year lower AAA growth rate compared to non-users (95% CI 0.33-1.99 mm/year). Increased age was associated with a slower growth (-0.09 mm/year per year, p = 0.003). Female gender (+1.82 mm/year, p = 0.008) and aneurysm diameter (+0.06 mm/year per mm, p = 0.049) were associated with increased AAA growth. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chronic lung disease, or other cardiovascular risk factors were not independently associated with AAA growth. CONCLUSIONS: Statins appear to be associated with attenuation of AAA growth, irrespective of other known factors influencing aneurysm growth.     

Guidelines for Cardiac Management in Noncardiac Surgery Are Poorly Implemented in Clinical Practice: Results from a Peripheral Vascular Survey in The Netherlands

Background: The American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation for Noncardiac Surgery recommend an algorithm for a stepwise approach to preoperative cardiac assessment in vascular surgery patients. The authors' main objective was to determine adherence to the ACC/AHA guidelines on perioperative care in daily clinical practice.

Methods: Between May and December 2004, data on 711 consecutive peripheral vascular surgery patients were collected from 11 hospitals in The Netherlands. This survey was conducted within the infrastructure of the Euro Heart Survey Programme. The authors retrospectively applied the ACC/AHA guideline algorithm to each patient in their data set and subsequently compared observed clinical practice data with these recommendations.

Results: Although 185 of the total 711 patients (26%) fulfilled the ACC/AHA guideline criteria to recommend preoperative noninvasive cardiac testing, clinicians had performed testing in only 38 of those cases (21%). Conversely, of the 526 patients for whom noninvasive testing was not recommended, guidelines were followed in 467 patients (89%). Overall, patients who had not been tested, irrespective of guideline recommendation, received less cardioprotective medications, whereas patients who underwent noninvasive testing were significantly more often treated with cardiovascular drugs ([beta]-blockers 43% vs. 77%, statins 52% vs. 83%, platelet inhibitors 80% vs. 85%, respectively; all P < 0.05). Moreover, the authors did not observe significant differences in cardiovascular medical therapy between patients with a normal test result and patients with an abnormal test result.     

Occurrence of the t(2;5)(p23;q35) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Primary CD30(Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is considered by some to be a distinct clinicopathologic entity associated with the t(2;5) (p23;q35). However, the specificity of t(2;5) for ALCL has not been carefully studied. Therefore, we performed a detailed analysis of all cases of ALCL with abnormal cytogenetics results in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group registry, as well as all other cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with t(2;5) in the registry. We found the t(2;5) in only five of 10 cases of ALCL, four of whom were young patients. However, we also found the t(2;5) in 11 other cases of nonanaplastic lymphoma, including eight children with typical peripheral T-cell lymphomas of various types. The t(2;5) was also found in three older adults with B-cell lymphomas of various types. Thus, the t(2;5) was not specific for CD30+ ALCL. However, t(2;5) may define a clinicopathologic entity in children and young adults characterized by variable morphologies with a T-cell or indeterminate phenotype, CD30-positivity, nodal disease with frequent extranodal involvement, advanced stage, and an excellent response to therapy, including bone marrow transplantation for relapsed disease. The clinical relevance of the t(2;5) in older patients requires further study.     

Dural sinus thrombosis: study using intermediate field strength MR imaging

The magnetic resonance (MR) images of six patients with thrombosis of a dural sinus were reviewed. The diagnosis had been verified by computed tomographic scans in three patients and arteriograms in two; in the sixth patient, only MR imaging was used to confirm the clinical syndrome. In all patients, high-intensity signal was seen from the thrombus within the affected dural sinus on all echoes. This persistent signal intensity allowed intravascular clot to be distinguished from normal causes of increased signal such as flow-related enhancement (entry phenomenon) and even-echo rephasing. MR imaging demonstrated the cause of the thrombosis in three patients: two were secondary to adjacent tumors, and one was secondary to unsuspected mastoiditis. Complications such as infarction were also demonstrated. Using MR imaging, one can easily and safely diagnose thrombosis of a dural sinus. MR should be the imaging method of choice in patients suspected of having thrombosis of a dural sinus.     

T-wave alternans: predicting the unpredictable?

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to ventricular arrhythmias hasa high morbidity and mortality. It is no wonder that cardiologists,rather than patching up survivors, are dedicated to findingpredictors of cardiac electrical instability to prevent SCD.The implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) has evolved as theultimate strategy for sudden arrhythmic death. In secondaryprevention, individuals are recognized by an aborted arrhythmicevent. By stratifying according to left ventricular ejectionfraction (LVEF) below 35%, SCD may also be prevented by an ICDin individuals without any prior arrhythmic event.¹ However,the relative SCD risk based     

Clinical MR imaging with a Helmholtz-type surface coil

Limited-field-of-view radio-frequency receiver antennas provide improved near-field sensitivity for magnetic resonance imaging by decreasing the antenna volume. The Helmholtz-type surface coil, consisting of two flat rings, is an organ-encompassing antenna that takes advantage of this principle to yield an improved signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The coil was tested in a group of 50 patients and 16 healthy volunteers. Images obtained with the Helmholtz coil demonstrated quantitatively superior S/N of 2.2-fold or greater than that of comparison body coil images, as well as qualitatively superior anatomic resolution.     

Prognostic significance of declining ankle-brachial index values in patients with suspected or known peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular events. This study assessed the prognostic significance of repeated ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements at rest and after exercise in patients with PAD receiving conservative treatment. METHODS: In a cohort study of 606 patients (mean age 62+/-12 years, 68% male), ABI at rest and after exercise was measured at baseline and after 1 year. Patients with reductions in ABI were divided into three equally-sized groups (minor, intermediate and major reductions) and were compared to patients without reductions. During a mean follow-up of 5+/-3 years, all-cause mortality, cardiac events, stroke and progression to kidney failure were noted. RESULTS: Death was recorded in 83 patients (14%) of which 49% were due to cardiac causes. Non-fatal myocardial infarction occurred in 38 patients (6%), stroke in 46 (8%) and progression to kidney failure in 35 (6%). By multivariate analysis, patients with major declines in resting (>20%) and post-exercise (>30%) ABI were at increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5-7.2, HR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4-6.4, respectively), cardiac events (HR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3-7.2, HR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.6, respectively), stroke (HR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.6-10.4, HR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.4-10.2, respectively) and kidney failure (HR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-7.5, HR: 6.9, 95% CI: 1.5-31.5, respectively), compared to patients with no declines in ABI. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that major 1-year declines in resting and post-exercise ABI are associated with all-cause mortality, cardiac events, stroke and kidney failure in patients with PAD.