Contralateral Stenosis Research Articles

Predictors of shunt during carotid endarterectomy with routine electroencephalography monitoring

The routine use of intraoperative electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring with selective shunt placement during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been shown to be safe and effective. We attempt to identify the anatomic and clinical factors associated with significant EEG changes requiring shunt placement during CEA. Between January 2005 and June 2007, 242 CEAs were performed with selective shunt placement for significant EEG changes. Risk factors assessed include severity of both ipsilateral and contralateral disease, presence of ipsilateral preoperative symptoms, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, age, gender, and preemptive intraoperative blood pressure manipulation to >or=20% above baseline before cross-clamping. Data were analyzed with the chi(2) test (P < .05 was significant). CEA was performed for asymptomatic disease in 177 of 242 patients (73.1%). The perioperative stroke rate was 0.8% (2 of 242), and the overall morbidity rate was 4.5%. No patients died. Significant EEG changes requiring shunt occurred in 35 patients (14.46%). Factors associated with carotid shunt placement were moderate ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis (50% to 79%) compared with severe (>or=80%) disease (30.6% vs 11.7%, P = .003) and degree of contralateral carotid stenosis (0% to 49%, 10.8%; 50% to 79%, 10.9%; 80% to 99%, 23.2%; occlusion, 50%; P = .0003). Presence of symptoms, gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease, and preemptive intraoperative manipulation of blood pressure were not significant predictors of shunt placement. CEA performed with routine EEG monitoring and selective shunt placement is associated with a low risk of perioperative stroke. Identified predictors of significant EEG changes were anatomic factors including degree of contralateral carotid artery disease and moderate ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis (50% to 79%). Although contralateral carotid occlusion has been accepted as indication for shunt placement in the absence of cerebral monitoring, this study suggests that high-grade contralateral disease and moderate ipsilateral carotid stenosis are associated with cerebral ischemia resulting in EEG changes and should prompt consideration for nonselective shunting.

Pearls &amp; Oy-sters: Resolution of hemichorea following endarterectomy for severe carotid stenosis

We report three patients with hemichorea who were found to have contralateral atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis. Their details are compared in the table. All patients had carotid duplex ultrasonography because they exhibited neurologic signs or symptoms suggestive of cerebrovascular ischemia in addition to chorea. View this table: Table Characteristics of the three cases Patient A developed right hemichorea; 9 months later she experienced three episodes of right limb weakness and speech disorder lasting 5 minutes, suggestive of transient ischemia. The severity of chorea increased and it mildly affected the left side. Neurologic examination revealed predominantly right-sided chorea and mild orofacial dyskinesia without other neurologic signs. The following blood tests were normal: full blood count, inflammatory markers, coagulation studies, renal, glucose, bone, liver, and thyroid biochemistry, immunoglobulin electrophoresis, anticardiolipin antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies screen (including extractable nuclear antigens). CT of the head was normal. Carotid duplex ultrasonography revealed 90% stenosis in the left internal carotid artery. Patient B developed right hemichorea and 3 months later expressive dysphasia and right facial and hand weakness; this precipitated admission. In addition to chorea, there was right visual inattention and upper motor neuron weakness affecting the right face and hand with normal reflexes and plantar responses. The same blood tests as for patient A were normal; in addition, treponemal serology was consistent with past infection. MRI of the brain showed a left-sided parietal lobe infarct which was limited to the gray matter of the posterior parietal lobe suggestive …

Pitfalls in the Diagnosis and Management of Obstructive Uterovaginal Duplication: A Series of 32 Cases

Obstructive uterovaginal duplication is rare and frequently misdiagnosed. The aims of this study were to review all the patients managed for this malformation in our institution, evaluate their long-term outcomes, and discuss the embryologic origin of this malformation. From 1984 to 2007, we treated 32 patients for obstructive uterovaginal duplication in our institution. We separated them in 2 groups (prepubertal [n = 8] and pubertal [n = 24]) and analyzed their clinical and radiologic presentations and their treatments. Patients >18 years of age (n = 22) were recontacted. For the prepubertal group, the median age at diagnosis was 6 months. Postnatal ultrasound showed an absent ipsilateral kidney in 6 case subjects, although 4 patients had a prenatal diagnosis of ipsilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney. This renal anomaly was associated with a pelvic sonolucent mass in 3 case subjects, allowing us to prenatally suspect the diagnosis. All of the patients were cured by vaginal approach. For the pubertal group, the median delay of diagnosis after menarche was 9 months. Among patients managed in an emergency setting (n = 11), there were 9 misdiagnoses with inappropriate abdominal surgeries, including 3 hysterectomies of the obstructed hemiuterus. Concerning long-term results, 5 patients were attempting to have children, with successful pregnancies for 4 of them. One patient suffered from infertility attributable to contralateral isthmic stenosis after a hysterectomy of the obstructed hemiuterus. Obstructive uterovaginal duplication is a benign pathology when properly managed. Therefore, management of abdominal pain in peripubertal girls should include systematic abdominal and gynecologic examinations completed by radiologic pelvic and renal evaluation. Surgical treatment should be performed by vaginal approach to avoid infertility. Concerning the origin of the malformation, the high association of prenatal dysplastic kidneys and postnatal absent kidneys suggests anomalies of both wolffian and müllerian duct development, contrasting with the classic definition of this malformation.

Predictors of Death and Stroke After Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

Little is known about the significance of patient characteristics, clinical indications, and technical details on the risk of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). The purpose of this study was to test these parameters as to their predictive value for the peri-interventional risk of CAS. Pro-CAS is a prospective, multicenter registry of CAS. Logistic regression analysis of possible predictive factors was performed on 5341 interventions that had been entered by 25 clinical centers between July 1999 and June 2005. The combined in-hospital mortality and stroke rate was 3.6%. The following were found to be significant predictors of peri-interventional stroke and death: center experience (< or = 50 versus 51 to 150 versus > or = 151 interventions), age, prior symptoms, primary intervention as compared with intervention for restenosis, angioplasty without stent, predilatation, and heparin dosage > 5000 IU. No statistically significant result was found for year of intervention, patient volume, gender, interval between symptoms and CAS, ocular versus neurological symptoms, side of CAS, degree of stenosis of the target lesion, presence of contralateral high-degree stenosis or occlusion, method of gaining access to the carotids, stent type, and use of a protection system. Our findings underline the need for dedicated training and strict credentialing rules for CAS. In addition, they might help to identify subgroups of patients at differential risk for CAS and carotid endarterectomy and yield a basis for correcting risks due to differences in case mix in reports about CAS.

Total Occlusion of the Common Carotid Artery: A Modified Classification and its Relation to Clinical Status

To investigate the hemodynamics and clinical presentation of common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO), we reviewed 6,415 patients with suspected carotid artery disease in whom a color Duplex imaging (CDI) examination was performed. According to distal vessel patency, the following CDI classification of CCAO was adopted: type I (patent both distal vessels); type II (isolated patency of external carotid artery); type III (isolated patency of internal carotid artery); and type IV (both distal vessels occluded). Thirty-five (0.5%) cases met the CDI criteria for CCAO. Twenty-nine of those (83%) had at least one patent distal vessel. Ten patients (29%) presented with stroke, 20 (57%) with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and five (14%) were asymptomatic. The incidence of stroke was higher in type IV (50%) vs. type II (30%) and in type II vs. type I (10%) lesions. Similarly, TIAs presented more often in type II (67%) and IV (50%) vs. in type I (40%) lesions ( p = 0.002). Retrograde flow in the ophthalmic artery and concomitant severe contralateral carotid artery stenosis were more often related with type II and IV lesions ( p = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). CCAO is usually accompanied by patent distal vessel(s). The proposed CCAO classification correlates well with the patients' clinical status and may help to better clarify the outcome of this rare entity. Among the main arteries of the developed collateral circulation, only the flow direction in the ophthalmic artery may be of clinical value. (E-mail: asterios@med.uoc.gr)

Diagnosing Cerebral Collateral Flow Patterns: Accuracy of Non-Invasive Testing

Objective: With routine use of non-invasive methods to assess the internal carotid artery, it becomes increasingly important to clarify the diagnostic accuracy of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) compared with intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (iaDSA) for the detection of collateral flow via the major intracerebral collateral branches. Subjects and Methods: In a prospective study, we compared TCD via a temporal bone window and MRA (flow direction sensitive phase contrast and time of flight) examinations of the intracranial collateral flow with iaDSA in a cohort of 97 consecutive patients with recent transient or minor disabling cerebral ischaemia associated with an occlusion of the carotid artery (38 contralateral stenosis >70%). Results: iaDSA allowed the evaluation of collateral flow via the anterior and posterior circle of Willis in 97 and 67 patients, respectively, TCD in 76 of 97 and 66 of 67 patients, MRA in 95 of 97 and 66 of 67 patients. MRA and TCD collateral flow measurements via the anterior part of the circle of Willis yielded a sensitivity of 83 and 82%, a specificity of 77 and 79% and a similar accuracy of 80%. MRA and TCD collateral flow measurements via the posterior communicating artery yielded a sensitivity of 33 and 76%, a specificity of 88 and 47% and an accuracy of 47 and 68%. Conclusion: As compared with iaDSA, combined MRA and TCD has a moderate to good diagnostic value for the examination of intracranial collateral flow in patients with symptomatic carotid occlusion.

Risk Factors and Neurological Consequences of Syncopes Induced by Internal Carotid Artery Angioplasty

Syncope and carotid sinus reactions (CSR) occur frequently in patients undergoing carotid angioplasty (CA). We investigated risk factors and the neurological consequences of carotid sinus syncope induced by CA. We examined 359 consecutive patients. Patients underwent assessment of cerebrovascular reserve before CA and continuous electroencephalographical monitoring during the procedure. We examined the impact of vascular risk factors, cerebral hemodynamics, characteristics of plaque, and procedural modality on the incidence of CSR and syncope. The effect of syncopes on periprocedural complication rates was also investigated. CSR and syncope occurred in 62.7% and 18.0% of the procedures, respectively. The occurrence of CSR during angioplasty was significantly associated with the appearance of syncope. The incidence of syncope was significantly higher in longer plaques located in the carotid bifurcation, in the presence of contralateral carotid stenosis, or when protection devices were used. Although TIA during CA was more common in syncopal patients, stroke or death rates were similar in the 2 groups. Syncope occurs more frequently in patients with long plaques proximal to the carotid bifurcation, but it does not increase the periprocedural complications rate.

Clinical and angiographic risk factors for stroke and death within 30 days after carotid endarterectomy and stent-protected angioplasty: a subanalysis of the SPACE study

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are used to prevent ischaemic stroke in patients with stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Better knowledge of risk factors could improve assignment of patients to these procedures and reduce overall risk. We aimed to assess the risk of stroke or death associated with CEA and CAS in patients with different risk factors. We analysed data from 1196 patients randomised to CAS or CEA in the Stent-Protected Angioplasty versus Carotid Endarterectomy in Symptomatic Patients (SPACE) trial. The primary outcome event was death or ipsilateral stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) with symptoms that lasted more than 24 h between randomisation and 30 days after therapy. Six predefined variables were assessed as potential risk factors for this outcome: age, sex, type of qualifying event, side of intervention, degree of stenosis, and presence of high-grade contralateral stenosis or occlusion. The SPACE trial is registered at Current Controlled Trials, with the international standard randomised controlled trial number ISRCTN57874028. Risk of ipsilateral stroke or death increased significantly with age in the CAS group (p=0.001) but not in the CEA group (p=0.534). Classification and regression tree analysis showed that the age that gave the greatest separation between high-risk and low-risk populations who had CAS was 68 years: the rate of primary outcome events was 2.7% (8/293) in patients who were 68 years old or younger and 10.8% (34/314) in older patients. Other variables did not differ between the CEA and CAS groups. Of the predefined covariates, only age was significantly associated with the risk of stroke and death. The lower risk after CAS versus CEA in patients up to 68 years of age was not detectable in older patients. This finding should be interpreted with caution because of the drawbacks of post-hoc analyses.

Duplex ultrasound velocity criteria for the stented carotid artery

Ultrasound velocity criteria for the diagnosis of in-stent restenosis in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) are not well established. In the present study, we test whether ultrasound velocity measurements correlate with increasing degrees of in-stent restenosis in patients undergoing CAS and develop customized velocity criteria to identify residual stenosis > or =20%, in-stent restenosis > or =50%, and high-grade in-stent restenosis > or =80%. Carotid angiograms performed at the completion of CAS were compared with duplex ultrasound (DUS) imaging performed immediately after the procedure. Patients were followed up with annual DUS imaging and underwent both ultrasound scans and computed tomography angiography (CTA) at their most recent follow-up visit. Patients with suspected high-grade in-stent restenosis on DUS imaging underwent diagnostic carotid angiograms. DUS findings were therefore available for comparison with luminal stenosis measured by carotid angiograms or CTA in all these patients. The DUS protocol included peak-systolic (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) measurements in the native common carotid artery (CCA), proximal stent, mid stent, distal stent, and distal internal carotid artery (ICA). Of 255 CAS procedures that were reviewed, 39 had contralateral ICA stenosis and were excluded from the study. During a mean follow-up of 4.6 years (range, 1 to 10 years), 23 patients died and 64 were lost. Available for analysis were 189 pairs of ultrasound and procedural carotid angiogram measurements; 99 pairs of ultrasound and CTA measurements during routine follow-up; and 29 pairs of ultrasound and carotid angiograms measurements during follow-up for suspected high-grade in-stent restenosis > or =80% (n = 310 pairs of observations, ultrasound vs carotid angiograms/CTA). The accuracy of CTA vs carotid angiograms was confirmed (r(2) = 0.88) in a subset of 19 patients. Post-CAS PSV (r(2) = .85) and ICA/CCA ratios (r(2) = 0.76) correlated most with the degree of stenosis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated the following optimal threshold criteria: residual stenosis > or =20% (PSV >or =150 cm/s and ICA/CCA ratio > or =2.15), in-stent restenosis > or =50% (PSV > or =220 cm/s and ICA/CCA ratio > or =2.7), and in-stent restenosis > or =80% (PSV 340 cm/s and ICA/CCA ratio > or =4.15). Progressively increasing PSV and ICA/CCA ratios correlate with evolving restenosis within the stented carotid artery. Ultrasound velocity criteria developed for native arteries overestimate the degree of in-stent restenosis encountered. These changes persist during long-term follow-up and across all grades of in-stent restenosis after CAS. The proposed new velocity criteria accurately define residual stenosis >or =20%, in-stent restenosis >or =50%, and high-grade in-stent restenosis > or =80% in the stented carotid artery.

Prospective analysis of carotid artery flow in breast cancer patients treated with supraclavicular irradiation 8 or more years previously

To the authors' knowledge, the effects of supraclavicular fossa radiation on the carotid artery are not well described. In the current study, the authors performed a prospective study to examine the long-term risk of carotid artery stenosis after supraclavicular irradiation for breast cancer. A total of 46 breast cancer patients who were treated with adjuvant radiation to the supraclavicular fossa with >8 years of follow-up underwent bilateral Doppler imaging of the carotid artery. Two independent cardiologists interpreted each ultrasound study with no knowledge of which side was treated. The median follow-up from the date of diagnosis was 14.6 years and the mean patient age at the time of ultrasound was 55 years. The median prescribed dose to the supraclavicular fossa was 50 grays. Four patients were found to have clinically relevant, asymptomatic carotid stenosis, for which a cardiology referral was necessary. Only 1 of these 4 patients had stenosis involving the irradiated carotid artery only; 1 patient had bilateral stenosis and 2 patients had only contralateral stenosis. There was no difference noted with regard to isolated ipsilateral versus contralateral medial intimal thickening of the carotid artery (5 patients vs 6 patients, respectively). Furthermore, there were no differences noted with regard to ipsilateral versus contralateral peak systolic flow in the internal (83.5 vs 85.6 cm/seconds; P= .522 by the Student t test and P= .871 by the signed rank test) or common (74.4 vs 77.0 cm/seconds; P= .462 by the Student t test and P= .246 by the signed rank test) carotid artery. In this prospective study of breast cancer patients with long follow-up, there was no evidence of late, clinically relevant stenosis, increased intimal thickening, or increased peak systolic carotid artery flow secondary to supraclavicular irradiation.

Rotational Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency Due to Dynamic Compression of the Dominant Vertebral Artery by the Thyroid Cartilage and Occlusion of the Contralateral Vertebral Artery at C1–2 Level

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by head rotation is an uncommon event. The mechanism is obstruction of the vertebral artery resulting in flow limitation or, less frequently, thromboembolism. A 41-year-old male developed dizziness and light-headedness during chiropractic manipulation when his head was turned to the extreme right position. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the neck and selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the vertebral arteries revealed that when the patient turned his head to the extreme right position the dominant right vertebral artery was compressed between the posterior aspect of the thyroid cartilage and anterior aspect of the right transverse process of C6 resulting in focal stenosis, while the left vertebral artery is severely compressed with significant flow limitation at the level of C1-2. Because the patient was healthy and asymptomatic, conservative management was adopted. At the 9-month follow-up visit the patient was asymptomatic and able to compensate for his problem avoiding turning his head to the extreme right position. We present an uncommon case of rotational vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) where the dominant vertebral artery has an anomalous course compressed by the thyroid cartilage at C6 level, associated with contralateral vertebral artery rotational stenosis at C1-2. The patient was successfully managed conservatively.

Treatment of hemodynamic insufficiency in chronic CCA occlusion using a short saphenous vein interposition graft: diagnostic and technical considerations

Extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery has been shown to reverse hemodynamic insufficiency on the basis of steno-occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery (ICA) or middle cerebral artery. In contrast, chronic occlusion of the common carotid artery (CCA) without extracranial donor vessels affords alternative revascularization procedures as well as a more elaborate preoperative workup. This case is intended to illustrate the specific diagnostic approach and considerations as well as a beneficial treatment modality in the setting of pronounced hemodynamic insufficiency as a consequence of a CCA occlusion, in conjunction with contralateral CCA and ICA stenoses. A 61-year-old man complaining of new onset aphasia underwent vascular imaging that revealed a proximal occlusion of the left CCA with a concomitant patent proximal ICA on ultrasound. Functional cerebral blood flow measurement including Xenon-enhanced computer tomography showed corresponding chronic hemodynamic insufficiency of the left hemisphere. The patient received a modified revascularization procedure, where a saphenous vein was used as interposition graft between the subclavian artery and the left proximal ICA. Postoperatively, both clinical and morphological improvement were noted. Successful treatment of hemodynamic insufficiency because of chronic CCA occlusion necessitates a thorough preoperative workup and application of alternative revascularization strategies.

Duplex Doppler Sonography of the Carotid Artery

To determine if a significant contralateral stenosis affects interpretation tables of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery's degree of stenosis in duplex Doppler ultrasound, the records of 307 patients with carotid duplex ultrasound studies with an angiogram performed within 3 months without intervening intervention were retrospectively reviewed for peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, internal carotid artery-common carotid artery ratio, and angiographic degree of stenosis. Data were grouped into categories of degree of contralateral stenosis, and Pearson r correlation was used to determine significance of ipsilateral Doppler parameters to angiographic data. As the degree of contralateral stenosis increases, the correlation of ultrasound parameters becomes less significant. At a contralateral stenosis of less than 40%, the P value for peak systolic velocity was 0.0006; at a contralateral stenosis between 40% and 59%, the P value was 0.133; at a contralateral stenosis between 60% and 79%, the P value was 0.241; and at a contralateral stenosis between 80% and 99%, the P value was 0.439. Therefore, correlations are no longer significant at levels above 40% contralateral stenosis. The Doppler parameters were scattered in patients with greater than 40%contralateral stenosis, and "corrected" correlation tables could not be derived. As stenosis increases in the contralateral internal carotid artery, Doppler values become inaccurate in determining the degree of stenosis in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery, with the occurrence of both the overestimation and underestimation of the degree of stenosis.

Transcervical carotid stenting with flow reversal protection: Experience in high-risk patients

Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with cerebral embolic protection is a safe alternative to carotid endarterectomy in high-risk patients. Among the various systems proposed for cerebral protection, transcervical CAS avoids crossing the lesion without protection and eliminates the complications associated with transfemoral access. This study analyzes our experience and the results obtained with a transcervical stenting technique for carotid revascularization. From January 2005 to June 2006, 62 CAS were performed in our center in high-risk patients with >70% stenosis (38.7% had a previous neurologic event and 61.3% were asymptomatic). The indications for CAS were severe heart disease (45.1%), severe pulmonary disease (6.4%), paralysis of the contralateral laryngeal nerve (6.4%), recurrent stenosis (3.2%), and high carotid lesion (1.6%). Twenty-one patients were >80 years old. A complete neurologic examination was performed by a stroke neurologist in all patients before and after stenting. The protection system used was carotid flow reversal by transcervical access. Transcranial Doppler monitoring was done during the procedure in 35 patients. We analyzed technical success, the presence of high-intensity transient signals during the procedure, neurologic morbidity and mortality at 30 days and 6 months, and stent patency at 6 months (range, 1 to 18 months). Technical success was 96.8%. Perioperative high-intensity transient signals were observed in two patients (5.7%). In the immediate postoperative period, one patient had a transient ischemic attack of the anterior cerebral artery and another had a stroke, with contralateral hemiplegia. At 48 hours after discharge, a third patient returned to the hospital with a severe cerebral hemorrhage that required surgical drainage; hence, neurologic morbidity was 4.9%. There were no deaths at 6 months. Among the total, 98.4% of the stents remained patent, two showed restenosis of 50% to 70%, and one restenosis of >70%. No patients presented a neurologic event during the follow-up. Transcervical carotid artery stenting with flow reversal cerebral protection is a relatively simple, safe technique that avoids instrumentation of the aortic arch and crossing the target lesion without protection. It is less expensive than techniques requiring a filter device and provides excellent outcome with an acceptable incidence of complications.

Comparison of the inflammatory burden of truly asymptomatic carotid atheroma with atherosclerotic plaques contralateral to symptomatic carotid stenosis: an ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced magnetic resonance study

Background:Inflammation is a recognised risk factor for the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. The aim of this study was to explore whether there is a difference in the degree of magnetic resonance...

Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion: Association With Atherosclerotic Disease in Other Arterial Beds and Vascular Risk Factors

The aim of this article is to investigate the association between internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO) and the presence of atherosclerotic disease and vascular risk factors. The clinical characteristics and risk factors of 120 patients presenting with ICAO were retrospectively reviewed. All patients (n = 120) had at least 1 of the 4 vascular risk factor (diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension); 2, 3, or all 4 risk factors were present in 14 to 82 of the patients (11.7% to 68.3%), 10 to 39 of the patients (8.3% to 32.5%), and 9 of the patients (7.5%), respectively. A total of 84 patients (70%) with ICAO had disease in at least 1 additional vascular bed (aorta, coronary or lower limb arteries). In addition to ICAO, vascular disease was present in 2 and all 3 of these arterial beds in 42 (35%) and 9 (7.5%) patients, respectively. Furthermore, stenosis or occlusion of the ipsilateral or contralateral vertebral arteries was recorded in 19 of 120 patients (15.8%). Regarding the contralateral carotid artery, 1 patient had bilateral ICAO. One patient had contralateral common carotid artery occlusion, and 1 patient was excluded from the analysis because of surgery to the contralateral carotid artery. Of the remaining 117 patients, 34 (29.0%) had less than 50% contralateral carotid artery stenosis. Thirty-two patients (27.4%) had 50% to 69%, and 51 (43.6%) had 70% to 99% stenosis. Ultrasonographic imaging of the carotid plaque of the contralateral carotid artery revealed that 52 of the 120 arteries (43.3%) were uniformly or predominantly echolucent (types I and II, respectively). Fifty-nine (49.2%) were predominantly or uniformly echogenic (types III and IV), and 9 (7.5%) could not be classified. A similar distribution of echomorphology was observed on the occluded side. ICAO is associated with widespread atherosclerotic disease and a high prevalence of vascular risk factors. Detection of ICAO should prompt the investigation of other arterial beds and treatment of risk factors.

Intensive treatment of hypertension decreases the risk of hyperperfusion and intracerebral hemorrhage following carotid artery stenting

To assess the efficacy of a comprehensive blood pressure (BP) management protocol in reducing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) following carotid artery stenting (CAS). Following CAS hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS) can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Hypertension plays an essential role in its development. We instituted a comprehensive BP protocol following the last case of ICH complicating a CAS procedure. All patients received comprehensive monitoring of BP and treatment to a BP < 140/90 mm Hg; those with a treated stenosis >or=90%, contralateral stenosis >or=80%, and hypertension (i.e., risk factors for HPS) were treated to a BP < 120/80 mm Hg. Patients who developed HPS received parenteral beta-blockers or nitrates titrated to resolution of symptoms and discharged when asymptomatic and normotensive. Patients and families were instructed to measure BP twice daily for 2 weeks and to call if hypertension or headache developed. A total of 836 patients had CAS, 266 prior to the comprehensive BP management program and 570 subsequently. The incidence of HPS/ICH was 5/266 (1.9%) patients prior to comprehensive BP management and 3/570 (0.5%) patients afterwards, P = 0.12. The incidence of ICH was 3/266 (1.1%) and 0/570, respectively, P = 0.032. In high-risk patients both HPS and ICH were significantly reduced from 29.4 to 4.2% (P = 0.006) and 17.6-0% (P = 0.006), respectively. There were no complications attributable to the comprehensive program and lengths of hospitalization were similar (2.6 vs. 2.1 days, P = 0.18). Comprehensive management of arterial hypertension can lower the incidence of ICH and HPS in high-risk patients following CAS, without additional complications or prolonged hospitalizations.

Feasibility of Endovascular Recanalization for Symptomatic Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion

This study sought to report technical details and clinical results of the first series of endovascular recanalization for cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Cervical ICA occlusion is associated with impaired cerebral perfusion, which may lead to ischemic cerebral symptoms and hemodynamic infarcts. Neither surgical nor endovascular revascularization has been shown to benefit this population. Endovascular recanalization was attempted in 30 patients with ICA occlusions (27 men; age 72.1 +/- 8.0 years, range 48 to 85 years). Recurrent neurologic deficit or cerebral ischemia by perfusion study, after known ICA occlusion, was noted in all patients. Strategies and devices for coronary occlusion intervention were applied, including microcatheter-supported tapered-tip stiff coronary guidewires. Contralateral ICA stenosis was found in 9 patients (30%). All patients underwent independent neurologic and duplex ultrasound follow-up. The overall technical success rate was 73% (22 of 30). No neck hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, or hyperperfusion was noted. One (3.3%) fatal brainstem infarction occurred 1 day after a successful ICA procedure, with angiographically proven acute basilar artery occlusion and patent ICA stent. Baseline ophthalmic artery flow was reversed in 15 of the 22 successfully recanalized patients, and was normalized in 12 after the procedure. There was no new cerebral ischemic event or neurologic death for a mean follow-up of 16.1 +/- 18.5 months. Endovascular recanalization for cervical ICA occlusion is feasible with acceptable midterm clinical results.

Relationships between free radical levels during carotid endarterectomy and markers of arteriosclerotic disease

Free radical production is elevated in jugular venous blood emerging from the brain in conjunction with carotid endarterectomy. This study explores the relationships between markers for lesion progression in arteriosclerosis, production of radicals and clinical characteristics. The radical production during carotid endarterectomy was studied in 13 patients with an ex vivo spin trap method using OXANOH as a spin trap. MCP-1, ICAM-1, MMP-9 and oxLDL were determined in venous blood samples before, during and after clamping of the carotid artery. Principal component analysis (PCA) as well as partial least square regression analysis (PLS) was applied to interpret the data. PCA and PLS analysis revealed that high values of MMP-9 and low values of ICAM-1 were associated with high radical production whereas MCP-1 and oxLDL were not correlated to radical production. MMP-9 was elevated at diabetes, high haemoglobin, high leucocyte counts and thrombocyte counts as well as at contralateral stenosis, whereas ICAM-1 showed reversed relationships to these clinical variables. MCP-1 increased during surgery. The main finding in our study is that MMP-9 in plasma is asscociated with radical production during carotid endarterectomy, suggesting that this enzyme might be involved in the pathogenesis of brain damage in conjunction with ischaemia-reperfusion.

Association of body iron stores with low molecular weight iron and oxidant damage of human atherosclerotic plaques

The association between iron, an oxidant catalyst, and atherosclerosis is controversial. In particular, it is unknown whether: (1) stored iron, namely serum ferritin, is correlated with catalytic iron and oxidant damage of human atherosclerotic plaques; (2) catalytic iron is related to oxidative injury within such plaques; (3) plaque oxidant burden is associated with the severity of atherosclerosis. Thus, we assessed low molecular weight iron (LMWI), which represents the metal catalytically active form, together with fluorescent damage products of lipid peroxidation (FDPL) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), in 38 atherosclerotic plaques surgically removed from 38 patients who had undergone selective carotid endarterectomy. In each patient, the levels of serum ferritin were measured and correlated with those of plaque LMWI and lipoperoxides by the Spearman rank correlation test with Spearman rank correlation coefficient ( r S) calculation. Moreover, in patients selected from the same study population, we compared plaque analyte levels between two groups with different severity of atherosclerotic carotid stenosis, i.e., < 90% (group A, n = 25) or ≥ 90% (group B, n = 13), and between another two groups without (group C, n = 27) and with (group D, n = 11) associated contralateral carotid stenosis ≥50%, indicative of “extensive” and more severe atherosclerotic disease. In group A patients, serum ferritin was directly and significantly correlated with plaque LMWI ( r S = 0.46, P < 0.025) and FDPL ( r S = 0.58, P < 0.005), while its correlation with plaque LOOH, albeit direct, did not attain statistical significance. Moreover, a direct and significant relationship was evident between the plaque content of LMWI and that of both FDPL ( r S = 0.61, P < 0.0025) and LOOH ( r S = 0.51, P < 0.025), suggesting a prooxidant role of catalytic iron within human atherosclerotic plaques. Considering the 13 patients of group B, a positive and significant correlation was observed between the levels of serum ferritin and those of plaque LMWI ( r S = 0.83, P < 0.0001); on the other hand, serum ferritin, as well as plaque LMWI, showed no significant correlation with either plaque FDPL or LOOH, conceivably reflecting the small number of patients belonging to group B. Finally, plaque LMWI, FDPL, and LOOH content was significantly higher in group B than in group A, and in group D than in group C. These data suggest a role for catalytic iron in atherosclerotic plaque oxidation and in the severity of atherosclerosis, which appears indeed associated with plaque oxidant burden.