scholarly journals Different Lower Extremity Arterial Calcification Patterns in Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Compared with Asymptomatic Controls

Author(s):  
Louise CD Konijn ◽  
Richard AP Takx ◽  
Willem PThM Mali ◽  
Hugo TC Veger ◽  
Hendrik van Overhagen

Objectives The most severe type of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is critical limb ischaemia (CLI). In CLI, calcification of the vessel wall plays an important role in symptoms, amputation rate and mortality. However, calcified arteries are also found in asymptomatic persons (non-PAD patients). We investigated whether the calcification pattern in CLI patients and non- PAD patients are different and could possibly explain the symptoms in CLI patients. Materials and Methods 130 CLI and 204 non-PAD patients underwent a CT of the lower extremities. This resulted in 118 CLI patients (mean age 72±12, 70.3% male) that were age-matched with 118 non-PAD patients (mean age 71±11, 51.7% male). The characteristics severity, annularity, thickness and continuity were assessed in the femoral and crural arteries and analysed by binary multiple logistic regression. Results Nearly all CLI patients have calcifications and these are equally frequent in the femoropopliteal (98.3%) and crural arteries (97.5%), while the non-PAD patients had in just 67% any calcifications with more calcifications in the femoropopliteal (70.3%) than in the crural arteries (55.9%, p<0.005). The crural arteries of the CLI patients had significantly more complete annular calcifications (OR 2.92, p=0.001.) while in the non-PAD patients dot-like calcifications dominated. In CLI patients, the femoropopliteal arteries had more severe, irregular / patchy and thick calcifications (OR 2.40, 3.27, 1.81, p≤0.05, respectively) while in non-PAD patients, thin continuous calcifications prevailed. Conclusions Compared with non-PAD patients CLI patients are more frequently and extensively calcified. Annular calcifications were found in the crural arteries of CLI patients while dot-like calcifications were mostly present in the non-PAD patients. These different patterns of calcifications in CLI point at different etiology and can have prognostic and eventually therapeutic consequences.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 493
Author(s):  
Louise C. D. Konijn ◽  
Richard A. P. Takx ◽  
Willem P. Th. M. Mali ◽  
Hugo T. C. Veger ◽  
Hendrik van Overhagen

Objectives: The most severe type of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLI). In CLI, calcification of the vessel wall plays an important role in symptoms, amputation rate, and mortality. However, calcified arteries are also found in asymptomatic persons (non-PAD patients). We investigated whether the calcification pattern in CLI patients and non- PAD patients are different and could possibly explain the symptoms in CLI patients. Materials and Methods: 130 CLI and 204 non-PAD patients underwent a CT of the lower extremities. This resulted in 118 CLI patients (mean age 72 ± 12, 70.3% male) that were age-matched with 118 non-PAD patients (mean age 71 ± 11, 51.7% male). The characteristics severity, annularity, thickness, and continuity were assessed in the femoral and crural arteries and analyzed by binary multiple logistic regression. Results: Nearly all CLI patients have calcifications and these are equally frequent in the femoropopliteal (98.3%) and crural arteries (97.5%), while the non-PAD patients had in just 67% any calcifications with more calcifications in the femoropopliteal (70.3%) than in the crural arteries (55.9%, p < 0.005). The crural arteries of CLI patients had significantly more complete annular calcifications (OR 2.92, p = 0.001), while in non-PAD patients dot-like calcifications dominated. In CLI patients, the femoropopliteal arteries had more severe, irregular/patchy, and thick calcifications (OR 2.40, 3.27, 1.81, p ≤ 0.05, respectively) while in non-PAD patients, thin continuous calcifications prevailed. Conclusions: Compared with non-PAD patients, arteries of the lower extremities of CLI patients are more frequently and extensively calcified. Annular calcifications were found in the crural arteries of CLI patients while dot-like calcifications were mostly present in non-PAD patients. These different patterns of calcifications in CLI point at different etiology and can have prognostic and eventually therapeutic consequences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Lily P. Wu ◽  
Nadraj G. Naidoo ◽  
Olatunji O. Adetokunboh

Background: A very small proportion (1%) of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) present with critical limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) with poor prognosis. The present review showcased several pre-operative predictors and key post-operative outcomes. Identification of any modifiable predictors may impact positively on surgical outcomes.Design: PubMed/Medline, Google scholar and Cochrane databases were searched using terms such as “peripheral arterial disease” AND “critical limb ischemia,” “post-operative outcome,” AND “predictors of post-operative outcomes”. Search was for relevant English-language articles published between January 1997 and December 2007 Selected articles were screened first by title and abstract, and selection of full articles was based on relevance using our inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality ratings performed with the MINORS score.Results: The included studies were published between 1997 and 2007. Only six (6) articles out of a total of 2,114 were deemed suitable for analysis. Ambulatory recovery was >70% at six months, 86.7% and 70.0% at one year and five years respectively. Rate of local wound complications was between 12% and 24%. Reported limb salvage rates were >90% at six months, >70% at one year and 70.0-90.0% at five years. Primary graft patency rate at one year ranged from 63% and 76.6%. Gangrene, diabetes and impaired pre-operative ambulatory function are associated with more wound complications, low limb salvage, reduced graft patency and poor functional outcome.Conclusion: Pre-operative ambulatory status was the most important predictor of post-operative ambulatory recovery. Diabetes mellitus was an important risk factor for prolonged wound healing, local wound complications and major amputation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (07) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Favaretto ◽  
Cristina Legnani ◽  
Michela Cini ◽  
Eleonora Conti ◽  
Alfio Amato ◽  
...  

SummaryFew data are available on thrombophilic risk factors and progression of atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Thrombophilic alterations can be an aggravating factor when arterial stenoses are present. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated the presence of the thrombophilic factors fibrinogen, homocysteine, factor (F)VIII, lupus anticoagulant (LAC), FII G20210A, and FV R506Q mutations in 181 patients with PAD at Fontaine’s stage II (claudication), in 110 patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI), and in 210 controls. Fibrinogen was higher in patients with CLI vs. those with claudication and controls (427.9 ± 10.5 vs. 373.1 ± 5.2 vs. 348.9 ± 7.0 p=0.001, respectively). Homocysteine and FVIII were higher in patients with PAD than in controls, but were similar in patients with CLI and claudication. The prevalence of LAC increased in patients with CLI vs. those with claudication and controls (21.4% vs. 7.8% vs. 5.2% p<0.001, respectively). The prevalence of FII 20210A allele was higher in patients with CLI vs. those with claudication and controls. Using a logistic model, FII G20210A mutation (odds ratio [OR] 19.8, confidence interval [CI] 4.5–87.1, p=0.001), LAC (OR 2.7, CI1.1–6.5, p=0.032), and fibrinogen (OR 1.01, CI 1.00–1.01, p=0.001) were associated with CLI, whereas homocysteine, FVIII, and FV R506Q mutation were not. CLI risk increased according to the number of thrombophilic alterations. In conclusion, altered levels of some important thrombophilic risk factors are independently associated with PAD severity. These data suggest that the presence of two or more thrombophilic risk factors raise the likelihood of PAD being more severe, justifying the need for larger longitudinal studies.


VASA ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidrich ◽  
Schmidt ◽  
Fahrig

Background: In a multivariate retrospective analysis was conducted to examine whether and to what extent PGE1 is therapeutically effective and whether there are predictors of response. Patients and methods: The examination included 767 patients (448 women, 319 men) of a mean age of 71.2 years and with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) having existed for 44.7 months on the average. They suffered from critical limb ischaemia (Fontaine’s stages III/IV) and showed average tcpO2 values at the instep of 2 mmHg (0 to 15) and average systolic malleolar artery pressures of 18 mmHg (0 to 35 mmHg). Between 1989 and 2001, the patients had received treatments in hospital with i.v. PGE1 doses (2 x 20 mug or 1 x 60 mug/day) for an average of 34.2 days (mean of responder- and non-responder group). Patients were called responders when pain had markedly decreased or disappeared, necroses had been reduced or healed completely, and vascular reconstruction, PTA or amputations were not necessary. Results: The clinical analysis showed 82.4% of the patients to be responders and 17.6% to be non-responders. It was demonstrated that the outcome of the therapy was not dependent on the supine or sitting tcpO2, the malleolar artery pressure, the patient’s age or sex, the duration of PAD, the number or kind of concomitant diseases, the patient’s general condition, the localization and number of vascular occlusions, the kind of prior therapy, or the number of previous amputations, although differences in some of the parameters, while clinically irrelevant, were found to be statistically significant. They are not predictors of the outcome of a PGE1 therapy. Conclusions: Even in extremely bad haemodynamic situations at the beginning of a therapy (malleolar artery pressures from 0 to 35 mmHg, tcpO2 0 to 15 mmHg, multilevel occlusive disease, multiple previous operations and concomitant diseases), PGE1 therapies of more than 20 days – on the average 35.6 days (mean of responder group) – duration allow clinically relevant positive results to be achieved.


VASA ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Gavier ◽  
Fernando Vazquez ◽  
Esteban Gandara

Abstract. Background: Despite being an important risk factor for venous thromboembolism and ischaemic stroke, the role of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with peripheral arterial disease remains a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of persistently elevated antiphospholipid antibodies and lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of electronic databases including MEDLINE, EUROPUBMED and EMBASE to assess the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Case-control studies were included if they reported the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Two reviewers (FV and EG) independently assessed the eligibility of all articles. The primary outcome measure was the odds ratio (OR) for the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, along with the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Our initial electronic search identified 128 relevant abstracts, of which two studies were included. Antiphospholipid antibodies were found in 50/571 patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease and 13/490 of the controls, OR 3.32 (95 % CI = 1.49 to 7.4). In those with critical limb ischaemia, the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies was elevated compared to controls, pooled OR 4.78 (95 % CI = 2.37 to 9.65). Conclusions: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that the prevalence of persistently elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies is increased in patients with lower extremity peripheral diseases when compared to healthy controls, especially in those with critical limb ischaemia.


ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 328-334
Author(s):  
Holger Reinecke ◽  
Nasser Malyar

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and aortic aneurysms are common diseases in older populations, sharing common aetiological risk factors. From community-based trials assessing ankle–brachial indices, 2–4% of the general population have been shown to be affected by PAD, which increases up to 15% in those above 70 years of age. About 30–40% of the in-hospital cases with PAD have critical limb ischaemia and suffer from a 1-year mortality of 20–40%. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) also show a relatively high prevalence of about 1–2% in the general population as found by large-scale, systematic duplex screening. Of these, about 5% come to hospital admittance with a ruptured AAA which is still associated with an in-hospital mortality of up to 50%. The prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) was reported to be at about 0.16–0.34% in selected subgroups of the general population. The incident cases of TAAs have risen from 10/100,000 cases in the late 1980s up to about 17/100,000 cases in the first decade of this millennium. It is noteworthy that PAD and aortic aneurysms as well as their associated co-morbidities remain in many cases underdiagnosed and undertreated. This leads to a high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which could not be obviously markedly reduced in the recent decades. Since nearly all vascular disorders are systemic diseases, not only the specific vessel bed which leads to a presentation should be assessed but also all other possible vascular manifestations should be thoroughly examined to reduce the high rates of adverse events and the persistent poor outcome.


2010 ◽  
pp. 315-326
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Kaski

Peripheral arterial disease 316 Aortic aneurysms 320 Aortic dissection 322 Large-vessel vasculitis 324 Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—sometimes termed peripheral vascular disease—refers to atherosclerosis, usually of the lower limbs, with obstruction to blood supply. This usually gives rise to intermittent claudication and may progress to critical limb ischaemia characterized by rest pain, ulceration, and gangrene. Symptoms may become acutely worse due to atherothrombosis or acute embolization. PAD is increasingly recognized as a marker of arterial disease in other vascular beds as atherosclerosis is usually widespread....


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 3306
Author(s):  
John S. Kurien ◽  
Sansho E. U. ◽  
Sandeep Varghese ◽  
Toney Jose

Background: Diffuse peripheral arterial disease or peripheral occlusive vascular disease (POVD) involving the lower limb is a debilitating illness with high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the improvement of ulcer healing and improvement of the level of amputation in patients with diffuse peripheral arterial disease after administration of prostaglandin E1.Methods: From June 2013 to November 2014, a total of 45 patients having critical limb ischaemia (Fontaine’s grade III and IV) not suitable for angioplasty and stenting or bypass procedures received different courses of Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). 20 patients (44.44%) received 6 full courses of PGE1, 3 patients (6.66%) received 5 courses, 5 patients (11.11%) received 4 courses, 4 patients (8.8%) received 3 courses, 4 patients (8.8%) received 2 courses and 9 patients (20%) received one course. PGE1 was administered through intravenous infusion (Alprastodil 100mcg) over 10 hours a day for 5 days in one month (1course). They were followed up for 3 years till June 2017.The improvement in level of amputation, ulcer healing and complications were assessed.Results: 14 patients (31.1%) did not require amputation of limbs/ toes, 24 patients (53.3%) have the same amputated status while 7 patients (15.6%) required higher amputation. This study justifies the role of PGE1 therapy in improving the peripheral arterial pulsations and thereby augmenting ulcer healing and improving the level of amputation.Conclusions: After diagnosing a patient with advanced CLI where angioplasty and stenting or bypass procedures are not possible, aggressive treatment for the non-healing ulcer, amputation of gangrenous limbs or toes and starting the PGE1 therapy early not only arrest the progression of POVD but even reverses it to some extent.


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