New Cerebral Lesions at Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Endarterectomy: An Updated Meta-Analysis

Background

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or stenting (CAS) are associated with a relatively low rate of clinical events, but diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is increasingly being used to compare the incidence of new ischemic lesions. Therefore, we conducted an updated meta-analysis on the occurrence of post-procedural new DWI lesions after CAS versus CEA.

Methods and Results

MEDLINE, Cochrane, ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS databases were searched and 20 studies (2 randomized and 18 non-randomized) with a total of 2104 procedures (CAS = 989; CEA = 1115) were included. The incidence of new DWI cerebral lesions was significantly greater after CAS than CEA (40.3% vs 12.2%; 20 studies; 2104 patients; odds ratio [OR] 5.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.31-8.06; p<0.00001). Also peri-procedural stroke (17 studies; 1833 patients; OR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.14-3.55; p=0.02) and stroke or TIA (17 studies; 1833 patients; OR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.42-4.08; p=0.001) were significantly increased after CAS. This latter clinical advantage in the CEA group over CAS was tempered when CEA procedures were performed with shunting in all instead of selective shunting or when CAS was performed with only closed cell stents instead of both closed and open cell stents, however, no significant differences between subgroups emerged.

Conclusions

CAS is associated with an increased incidence of post-procedural brain DWI lesions. This greater amount of ischemic burden may also reflect a higher rate of cerebral events after CAS. However, whether recent technical advances mainly for CAS could potentially reduce these ischemic events still remains to be evaluated.     

颈内动脉支架置入术对颈动脉狭窄患者认知功能影响的研究

目的：研究颈动脉狭窄对认知功能的影响,探讨颈动脉支架置入术（CAS）患者术后不同时期认知功能的变化及其可能的机制。方法：选取2010年1月至2012年12月我院神经内科收住的急性脑梗死（前循环）患者75例,按颈内动脉狭窄程度,分成无狭窄组,轻度狭窄组（狭窄程度〈30％）,中度狭窄组（30-69％）和治疗组（70．99％）,前三组给予药物治疗,治疗组同时给予颈内动脉支架置入术,应用蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）、简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）、搭火柴测验（stickTest）,对患者进行认知功能评估,比较术前、术后不同时期认知功能的变化,同时利用SPECT／CT对治疗组20例患者术后局部脑血流改善状况进行评价。结果：治疗组和对照组在术前比较MoCA总分、MMSE评分、StickTest评分,发现治疗组评分低于对照组,且随着颈动脉狭窄程度的加重,认知功能受损越明显;治疗组在术后1周与术前比较,评分反而降低,差异有统计学意义;术后3个月、术后6个月与术前比较,评分均有所提高,差异有统计学意义;通过SPECT／CT对治疗组术前感兴趣区血流量与同侧小脑平均脑血流量比较,术后再与同侧小脑比较,结果显示术后脑灌注明显改善。结论：颈动脉狭窄与血管性认知功能障碍有关,而且认知功能障碍的程度与颈动脉狭窄程度呈正相关,颈内动脉支架置入术可最终改善认知功能,尤其表现在视空间／执行能力,延迟回忆能力,注意力等方面。     

Ischemic Heart Disease: Precarious Coronary Lesions and Prognosis

Coronary arteriograms in 113 patients whose cases were followed for 2 to 12 years were analyzed in an attempt to discover why in some patients with angina pectoris there are long stable clinical courses and in others the courses proceed rapidly to death. It was found that patients with completed coronary occlusions, usually with distal portions reconstituted by collateral, had favorable prognoses with prolonged longevity. Patients with multiple high grade narrowings of the coronary arteries, on the other hand, had poor prognoses with high attrition rates. The more stenotic lesions present in the coronary arteries, the higher the attrition rates. Completed coronary occlusions, therefore, have been classified as nonprecarious while local coronary stenoses greater than 50 percent of the lumen diameter have been classified as degrees of precariousness according to the number of lesions present.When compared with classification by number of diseased vessels and by arteriographic score of Friesinger, the nonprecarious cases had better prognoses than the precarious.     

Clinical Investigation of Fasudil for the Prevention of Cerebral Vasospasm in Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenting

To evaluate fasudil hydrochloride for the prevention of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) in extra-cranial carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). We retrospectively analyzed 178 patients with unilateral CAS who were given intravenous fasudil hydrochloride during the perioperative period. CVS, hypotension, stroke, and mortality incidence rates were recorded. Of the cohort studied, 80.9 % patients exhibited no local CVS, asymptomatic vasospasm was observed in 17.4 % patients and symptomatic vasospasm in 1.7 % patients via DSA imaging. All CVS was relieved and symptoms disappeared after intra-arterial infusion of papaverine hydrochloride. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in two cases during the perioperative period, one of which resulted in death. CVS is a severe complication of CAS. Fasudil hydrochloride can rapidly relieve cerebral vasospasm, has no selective effect on cerebral vasculature, and little influence on blood pressure. It is suitable for the prevention of CVS during interventional treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.     

阿托伐他汀对大脑中动脉支架置入后患者血脂、血清CRP及脑缺血性不良事件的影响

目的:探讨阿托伐他汀对大脑中动脉支架置入后患者血脂、血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)及脑缺血性不良事件的影响。方法:选择本院收治的60例行大脑中动脉支架置入术后的患者,采用随机序号的方式将其分为观察组和对照组各30例,其中对照组给予口服拜阿司匹林和硫酸氢氯吡格雷进行治疗,观察组在对照组基础上加服阿托伐他汀进行治疗,对两组治疗后6个月、12个月时患者血脂、血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)及脑缺血性不良事件发生率进行对比分析。结果:观察组在治疗后6个月时LDL-C、TC、TG及CRP含量与治疗前和对照组比较显著下降,比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组患者在治疗后的12个月时LDL-C、TC、TG及CRP含量亦明显低于治疗前和对照组,比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组不良事件发生率为10%,明显低于对照组不良事件发生率的30%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:阿托伐他汀对不仅可有效改善大脑中动脉支架置入术后患者的血脂、血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)的各项指标水平,而且还能有效的降低脑缺血性不良事件的发生。     

Gene-Gene Associations with the Susceptibility of Kawasaki Disease and Coronary Artery Lesions

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting children < 5 years old. Genes significantly associated with KD mostly involve cardiovascular, immune, and inflammatory responses. Recent studies have observed stronger associations for KD risk with multiple genes compared to individual genes. Therefore, we investigated whether gene combinations influenced KD susceptibility or coronary artery lesion (CAL) formation. We examined 384 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 159 immune-related candidate genes in DNA samples from KD patients with CAL (n = 73), KD patients without CAL (n = 153), and cohort controls (n = 575). Individual SNPs were first assessed by univariate analysis (UVA) and multivariate analysis (MVA). We used multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) to examine individual SNPs in one-, two-, and three-locus best fit models. UVA identified 53 individual SNPs that were significantly associated with KD risk or CAL formation (p < 0.10), while 35 individual SNPs were significantly associated using MVA (p ≤ 0.05). Significant associations in MDR analysis were only observed for the two-locus models after permutation testing (p ≤ 0.05). In logistic regression, combined possession of PDE2A (rs341058) and CYFIP2 (rs767007) significantly increased KD susceptibility (OR = 3.54; p = 4.14 x 10⁻⁷), while combinations of LOC100133214 (rs2517892) and IL2RA (rs3118470) significantly increased the risk of CAL in KD patients (OR = 5.35; p = 7.46 x 10⁻⁵). Our results suggest varying gene-gene associations respectively predispose individuals to KD risk or its complications of CAL.     

颈动脉内-中膜厚度对冠状动脉病变的预测价值

目的:探讨颈动脉内-中膜厚度对冠状动脉病变的预测价值。方法:根据冠状动脉造影结果,将183例行冠状动脉造影的患者分为3组:正常组59例为冠状动脉造影阴性;A组54例冠状动脉狭窄率50%;B组70例冠状动脉狭窄率≥50%。根据冠状动脉病变数量将124例冠状动脉狭窄的患者进一步分为单支病变组40例,双支病变组38例和多支病变组46例。所有患者行颈动脉超声检查,测量颈动脉内-中膜厚度。结果:A组、B组的颈动脉内-中膜厚度和冠脉积分(Gensini评分)均明显高于正常对照组,且B组颈动脉内-中膜厚度和Gensini评分均较A组明显增加,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。随着冠状动脉狭窄程度的加重,颈动脉内-中膜厚度和Gensini评分逐渐增加。多支病变组、双支病变组IMT值和Gensini评分均显著高于单支病变组(P0.05),而双支病变组与多支病变组比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。颈动脉IMT厚度与冠状动脉病变数量相关性不大,与Gensini评分呈显著性正相关(P0.01)。结论:颈动脉内-中膜厚度能较好地预测冠状动脉病变程度,但不能预测冠状动脉病变范围。     

颈动脉支架置入术改善认知功能

目的:观察颈动脉狭窄患者支架置入术时其认知功能的影响及简易精神评估量表(MMSE)与蒙特利尔认知评估北京版(MoCA)有无相关性。方法:收集124例颈动脉支架置入患者,在支架置入前及置入后1、3、6月分别应用简易精神评估量表(MMSE)、蒙特利尔认知评估北京版(MoCA)、P300检测患者认知功能的变化,同时对患者卒中有无复发进行登记,所有患者意识清楚,能配合完成上述检查。结果:所有患者安全、成功的置入颈动脉支架,无相关并发症出现;支架置入前颈动脉的狭窄率为(84±8.6)%,支架置入以后颈动脉狭窄率为(4.8±3.8)%,狭窄率较术前明显狭窄:支架置入前患者的MMSE、MoCA及P300潜伏期分别为21±3.1、14±3.6 ms,在治疗后随访的1、3及6个月,MMSE、MoCA明显提高而P300明显缩短;MMSE与MocA呈正相关;在随访期内患者无有症状的卒中复发。结论:颈动脉狭窄是导致认知功能障碍的原因之一,颈动脉支架置入可以改善患者认知功能障碍。     

Effect of Carotid Artery Stenting on Cognitive Function in Patients with Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis and Cerebral Lacunar Infarction: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study in China

Background and Objectives

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an important therapeutic strategy for patients with carotid artery stenosis. However, the potential influence of CAS on cognitive function in patients with carotid artery stenosis and cerebral lacunar infarction has not been determined. This study investigated changes in cognitive function associated with CAS and the factors related to these changes.

Methods

This prospective cohort study comprised 579 Chinese patients with cerebral lacunar infarction and carotid artery stenosis for whom CAS was indicated, and a matched control group of 552 healthy individuals. Cognitive function before CAS and at scheduled intervals from 6 months to 3 years was assessed with instruments that included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. Potential factors that might affect cognitive function were analyzed via logistic regression.

Results

The MMSE and MoCA scores of the patients before CAS were significantly lower than that of the control subjects. These scores were significantly higher 6 months after CAS and sustained or increased throughout the 3-year follow-up. Also significantly improved after CAS from baseline were scores for an alternating trail test, cube copying, clock-drawing, attention, and delayed recall in an auditory-verbal learning test. Logistic regression analyses showed that age greater than 65 y, little education, diabetes, and hypertension were independent risk factors for deteriorated MoCA scores 3 years after CAS.

Conclusion

CAS was associated with significantly improved cognitive function in cerebral lacunar infarction patients with severe stenosis.     

Correlation of Chronic Renal Dysfunction and Albuminuria with Severity of Coronary Artery Lesions in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

This study was conducted to investigate the possible correlation of chronic renal dysfunction and albuminuria with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Two-hundred and ninety-nine patients who had undergone coronary angiography for suspected CAD were stratified into three groups according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR): group I included 144 patients with normal renal function GFR >90 ml/(min × 1.73 m²), group II included 97 patients with mild renal impairment GFR 60–89 ml/(min × 1.73 m²), and group III included 58 patients with moderate renal impairment GFR <60 ml/(min × 1.73 m²). Patients were then stratified into two groups according to the albuminuria level (0; minimal, 1+, 2+, 3+): the albuminuria negative group (negative = 0) included 171 patients and the albuminuria positive group (positive = minimal, 1+, 2+, 3+) included 128 patients. Clinical features and coronary lesion characteristics were compared among these groups. Patients with more severe renal dysfunction and positive albuminuria had a higher incidence of CAD (66.7 vs. 70.1 vs. 72.4 %, p = 0.025 and 64.2 vs. 75.0 %, p = 0.032), more multi-vessel disease (31.2 vs. 41.2 vs. 53.4 %, p = 0.004 and 33.3 vs. 46.1 %, p = 0.015), more left anterior descending branch lesions (50.7 vs. 56.7 vs. 60.3 %, p = 0.012 and 49.1 vs. 61.7 %, p = 0.009), and a higher Gensini score (42.3 ± 14.7 vs. 46.1 ± 19.9 vs. 52.8 ± 21.2, p = 0.026 and 44.0 ± 16.0 vs. 50.5 ± 20.2, p = 0.017). In conclusion, chronic renal dysfunction and albuminuria may be important factors determining the occurrence and the severity of CAD. Albuminuria was an especially significant indicator at the early stage of renal dysfunction.     

Impact of Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation on the Presentation of Coronary Artery Disease

Background

Little is known about whether atrial fibrillation is a presentation of coronary disease. There is a paucity of knowledge about their causal relationship and also the impact of different antithrombotic strategies on the subsequent presentation of symptomatic coronary disease.

Methods and Results

We studied 7,526 Chinese patients diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and no documented history of coronary artery disease. The primary endpoint was the new occurrence of coronary artery disease—either stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome. After a mean follow-up of 3.2±3.5 years (24,071 patient-years), a primary endpoint occurred in 987 patients (13.1%). The overall annual incidence of coronary artery disease was 4.10%/year. No significant differences in age, sex, and mean CHA₂DS₂-VASc score were observed between patients with and without the primary endpoint. When stratified according to the antithrombotic strategies applied for stroke prevention, the annual incidence of coronary artery disease was 5.49%/year, 4.45%/year and 2.16%/year respectively in those prescribed no antithrombotic therapy, aspirin, and warfarin. Similar trends were observed in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Diabetes mellitus, smoking history and renal failure requiring dialysis were predictors for primary endpoint in all antithrombotic therapies.

Conclusion

In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, there is a modest association with coronary artery disease. Patients prescribed warfarin had the lowest risk of new onset coronary artery disease.     

Noninvasive Assessment of Carotid Artery Disease

Noninvasive methods of detecting carotid disease were developed to avoid the morbidity and occasional mortality associated with cerebral angiography. The tests developed are of the following two types: direct, which uses imaging or the detection of flow disturbances to identify disease at the bifurcation, and indirect, which infers the presence of bifurcation disease by detecting changes at a remote site. The initial goal of only detecting disease has now been broadened, with this technology being used to address important clinical and epidemiologic questions such as the natural history of carotid bifurcation disease. The recognition of these important contributions has been compounded, however, by the large number of tests that are available, producing the problem of deciding which test or tests should be used for a particular patient. The use of multiple tests avoids the deficiencies of single tests but compounds medical costs. For a cost-effective single form of testing for all circumstances, duplex scanning methods offer the greatest possibility of detecting all degrees of disease.     

血管内支架成形术治疗大脑中动脉狭窄

目的:探讨血管内支架成形术治疗大脑中动脉狭窄的疗效及安全性.方法:对22例大脑中动脉狭窄患者行血管内支架成形术,回顾性分析其临床特点、疗效及治疗经验.结果:22例患者共植入22枚支架,均获得成功.术后即刻造影狭窄率为(11.2±4.5)%,较术前(79±15)%明显改善.术后残余狭窄程度均小于20%.临床随访无TIA发作或脑卒中再发,DSA随访除1例外均无再狭窄发生.结论:血管内支架成形术治疗大脑中动脉狭窄安全有效,但远期疗效还需进一步观察.     

Influence of Obesity and Metabolic Disease on Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CordioPrev Study)

BackgroundRecent data suggest that the presence of associated metabolic abnormalities may be important modifiers of the association of obesity with a poorer prognosis in coronary heart disease. We determined the influence of isolated overweight and obesity on carotid intima media thickness (IMT-CC), and also assessed whether this influence was determined by the presence of metabolic abnormalities.Methods1002 participants from the CordioPrev study were studied at entry. We determined their metabolic phenotypes and performed carotid ultrasound assessment. We evaluated the influence of obesity, overweight and metabolic phenotypes on the IMT-CC.ResultsMetabolically sick participants (defined by the presence of two or more metabolic abnormalities) showed a greater IMT-CC than metabolically healthy individuals (p = 4 * 10⁻⁶). Overweight and normal weight patients who were metabolically healthy showed a lower IMT-CC than the metabolically abnormal groups (all p<0.05). When we evaluated only body weight (without considering metabolic phenotypes), overweight or obese patients did not differ significantly from normal-weight patients in their IMT-CC (p = 0.077). However, obesity was a determinant of IMT-CC when compared to the composite group of normal weight and overweight patients (all not obese).ConclusionsIn coronary patients, a metabolically abnormal phenotype is associated with a greater IMT-CC, and may be linked to a higher risk of suffering new cardiovascular events. The protection conferred in the IMT-CC by the absence of metabolic abnormality may be blunted by the presence of obesity.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00924937","term_id":"NCT00924937"}}NCT00924937     

冠心病患者冠脉支架术后发生再狭窄的危险因素回归分析

目的:探讨冠心病患者冠脉支架手术后发生再狭窄的危险因素,为提高临床治疗效果和改善预后提供指导。方法:回顾性分析2014年1月至2015年12月我院收治的226例行冠脉支架手术的冠心病患者临床病历资料,采用SPSS21.0分析冠脉再狭窄的发生情况及危险因素。结果:51例冠心病患者冠脉支架术后发生冠脉再狭窄(22.57%)。单因素分析显示,不同吸烟史、糖尿病史、脂蛋白a(Lp(a))水平、空腹血糖、尿素氮(BUN)、总胆红素、术前病变狭窄程度、植入支架支数、长度以及直径组冠心病患者的冠脉再狭窄发生率比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析,吸烟史、糖尿病史、Lp(a)水平、术前病变狭窄程度、植入支架支数、长度是冠心病患者冠脉支架术后再狭窄发生的独立危险因素,OR分别为2.261、1.944、3.593、2.798、2.449、3.823,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),植入支架直径是冠脉再狭窄发生的保护因素,OR为0.261,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:冠脉植入支架的总长度、数量,术前病变的狭窄程度、Lp(a)水平、糖尿病以及吸烟是冠心病患者冠脉支架术后发生再狭窄的独立危险因素,临床应不断优化支架并根据再狭窄的危险因素采取针对性的防治措施。     

Influence of Prior Coronary Stenting on the Immediate and Mid-term Outcome of Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

BACKGROUND:: There has been little emphasis on the possible consequences of prior stent placement on the outcome of coronary bypass surgery (CABG). We compared the results of isolated CABG patients who had prior stents with those who had not with respect to preoperative status, operative procedure, and postoperative immediate and long-term outcome. METHODS:: Records of 1471 patients undergoing isolated CABG at our institution between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2005, were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I had no stents (n = 1317). Group II had one to three stents (n = 137). Group III had more than three stents (n = 17). Groups were compared with respect to preoperative risk factors, operative procedures, and postoperative results. Long-term survival data were obtained on 97.6% of patients with a mean follow-up, 4.1 ± 2.3 years. RESULTS:: Stented patients were younger (66.1 ± 10.8 vs. 69.1 ± 10.8 years, P = 0.006), had more unstable angina (68.2% vs. 58.9%, P = 0.02), hypercholesterolemia (83.8% vs. 61.2%, P = 0.00), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13.6% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.03), peripheral vascular disease (15.2% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.00), and previous CABG (10.1% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.00), fewer low ejection fractions (1.3% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.02), left main disease (25.3% vs. 32.6%, P = 0.04), diabetes (31.2% vs. 40.8%, P = 0.01), or diffuse disease (19.5 ± 10.5 vs. 22.5 ± 10.9, P = 0.00), had more off pump procedures (53.2% vs. 45.3%, P = 0.03), fewer internal thoracic artery grafts (80.5% vs. 86.6%, P = 0.03), fewer grafts placed (>3: 52.6% vs. 61.8%, P = 0.02), more complications (76.5% vs. 42.6%, P = 0.005), atrial fibrillation (47.1% vs. 19.7%, P = 0.011), longer hospital stays (12.2 vs. 8.3 days, P = 0.019). Percentage survival for groups I, II, and III at 60 months was 82.1%, 84.7%, and 72.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: Stents placed before surgery in isolated CABG patients may be associated with higher preoperative risk, altered operative procedures, more postoperative complications, longer hospitalizations, and more readmissions. Overall, stented patients experienced more preoperative hospitalizations, catheterizations, and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) than nonstented patients. Survival for those with more than three stents may be diminished.     

冠心病患者颈动脉粥样硬化与血管内皮功能的临床研究价值

目的:探讨颈动脉粥样硬化与血管内皮功能与冠心病患者的相关性。方法:选取114例冠心病患者(54例单支病变和60例多支病变)为观察组和60例健康体检者为对照组,对两组患者动脉粥样硬化及血管内皮功能进行分析。结果:观察组患者TC、TG、HDL及血糖水平均高于对照组,观察组LDL水平显著低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组患者颈动脉IMT、斑块积分及斑块数明显高于对照组(P<0.05),观察组FMD显著降低(P<0.05),多支病变组病变程度更严重(P<0.05)。结论:颈动脉粥样硬化与血管内皮功能可作为预测冠心病的重要指标,对预防和治疗冠心病具有重要意义。     

血清脂联素、载脂蛋白B/A1比值与颈总动脉内——中膜厚度和冠脉病变的相关性研究

目的:探讨血清脂联素、栽脂蛋白B/我脂蛋白A1比值与颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT)的相关性,为冠心病的早期诊断提供简便、客观的指标.方法:入选经冠状动脉造影证实的冠心痛患者81例,其中单支病变组21例,多支病变组60例,另选冠状动脉造影正常者17例为对照组.采用高频超声探测双侧颈总动脉内中膜厚度(IMT),以及测定血清脂联素、载脂蛋白B/载脂蛋白A1水平,分析三者之间的相关性以及和冠心病的关系.结果:血清脂联素与颈动脉内中膜厚度呈负相关,载脂蛋白B/栽脂蛋白A1比值与颈动脉内中膜厚度呈正相关.与正常对照组相比,冠状动脉单支或多支病变组血清脂联素水平降低,而栽脂蛋白B/载脂蛋白A1比值、颈动脉内中膜厚度明显增高.结论:血清脂联素、载脂蛋白B/载脂蛋白A1比值与颈动脉内中膜厚度对于冠心痛的诊断有重要的预测价值.