scholarly journals Inner Ear Disorders in the Elderly with Carotid Artery Disease Requiring Revascularization: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Association

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
RAZAN AL FAKIR
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Inner Ear ◽  
Carotid Artery Disease ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Artery Disease

Background: Aging is almost assocaited with inner ear disorders (InEarDs) by means of age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) or vertigo-and-dizziness as well as the carotid artery disease requiring revascularization (CAD-R).Objective: The present study aimed to study the prevalence and characteristics of InEarDs in older adults diagnosed with CAD-R. The other aim was to determine if InEarDs in CAD-R patients is age-related or might be explained by a concomitant CAD-R.Method: A retrospective, case-control study was conducted at the Mayo Clinic, Florida. The study cohort includes 919 patients who had CAD-R. The control group consisted of 244 age- and gender-matched patients presenting with cardiac or peripheral artery disease. The InEarDs were assessed based on the diagnosis upon presentation to the Audiology Clinic and follow-up.Results: Of the 919, 348 had ARHI that includes significant peripheral signs and central symptoms (24.9%), vertigo-and-dizziness events that are recurrent and persistent with normal objective vestibular testing (12.9%), or a combination of both (11.0%). These percentages were significantly higher in the study group relative to the control group. After adjustment for the vascular risk factors, the study group had significantly higher odds of ARHI (OR= 1.94; 95% CI: 1.09-3.44; P<0.05),Conclusion: CAD-R patients had significantly higher InEarDs than the control group. CAD-R is more likely to be associated with ARHI rather than the vertigo-and-dizziness even after adjusting for the vascular risk factors.

scholarly journals The impact of vascular risk factors on the thickness and volume of the choroid in AMD patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Krytkowska ◽  
Aleksandra Grabowicz ◽  
Katarzyna Mozolewska-Piotrowska ◽  
Zofia Ulańczyk ◽  
Krzysztof Safranow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Average Volume ◽  
Central Ring ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Wet Amd

AbstractDisturbances in choroidal microcirculation may lead to the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We aimed to assess changes in the choroidal volume and thickness in the macular region in AMD eyes and to investigate whether coexisting vascular risk factors alter choroidal status. We enrolled 354 AMD patients (175 dry, 179 wet AMD) and 121 healthy controls. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and assessment of choroidal thickness and volume. A multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and smoking status revealed that wet AMD was an independent factor associated with higher average thickness of the central ring area (ATC) and average volume of the central ring area (AVC) and lower choroidal vascularity index (CVI) compared to controls (β =  + 0.18, p = 0.0007, β =  + 0.18, p = 0.0008, respectively) and to dry AMD (β =  + 0.17, p = 0.00003 for both ATC and AVC and β =  − 0.30 p < 0.0001 for CVI). ATC, AVC and average volume (AV) were lower in AMD patients with hypertension and ischaemic heart disease (IHD). The duration of hypertension was inversely correlated with ATC, AVC and AV (Rs =  − 0.13, p < 0.05; Rs =  − 0.12; p < 0.05, Rs =  − 0.12; p < 0.05, respectively) while IHD duration negatively correlated with AV (Rs =  − 0.15, p < 0.05). No such associations were observed in the control group. Our findings show that the choroidal vascular system in eyes with AMD is much more susceptible to damage in the presence than in the absence of systemic vascular disease.

scholarly journals Aterosclerose Carotídea e Hipodensidades da Substância Branca: uma Relação Controversa

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Félix-Morais ◽  
João Sargento-Freitas ◽  
Fernando Silva ◽  
Gustavo Cordeiro ◽  
César Nunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Carotid Artery Disease ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Artery Stenosis ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Vascular Origin

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> White matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin, are recognized as an important cause of morbidity with established clinical and cognitive consequences. Nonetheless, many doubts remain on its physiopathology. Our goal is to clarify the potential role of carotid atherosclerosis and other vascular risk factors in the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> We included patients that underwent CT brain scan and neurosonologic evaluation within a one-month period. Full assessment of vascular risks factors was performed. We seek to find independent associations between white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin, carotid intima-media thickness and vascular risk factors.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> 472 patients were included, mean age was 67.32 (SD: 14.75), 274 (58.1%) were male. The independent predictors of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin were age (OR: 1.067, 95% IC: 1.049 – 1.086, p &lt; 0.001) and hypertension (OR: 1.726, 95% IC: 1.097 – 2.715, p = 0.018). No association was found between IMT (OR: 2.613, 95% IC: 0.886 – 7.708, p = 0.082) or carotid artery stenosis (OR: 1.021, 95% IC: 0.785 – 1.328, p = 0.877) and white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin.<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> Only age and hypertension proved to have an independent association with white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Carotid atherosclerosis, evaluated by IMT and the degree of carotid artery stenosis, showed no association with white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Since atherosclerosis is a systemic pathology, these results suggest that alternative mechanisms are responsible for the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Age and hypertension seem to be the main factors in the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. No association was found between carotid atherosclerosis and white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin.</p><p><br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Brain; Carotid Artery Disease.</p>

Abstract TP407: Effects of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Outcomes

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Haiqing Song ◽  
Kai Dong ◽  
Ran Meng ◽  
Shuying Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Remote Ischemic Conditioning ◽  
Ischemic Conditioning ◽  
Vessel Disease

Objective: To evaluate the preliminary efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) on patients with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with symptomatic SVD within 30 days of onset were enrolled in this prospectively randomized controlled study for 1 year. All patients received routine medical treatment including treating vascular risk factors according to the guideline. Patients in the experimental group (n=14) were administered 5 cycles consisting of ischemia followed by reperfusion for 5 minutes on bilateral upper limbs twice daily for 1 year. Those in the control group (n=16) underwent sham ischemia-reperfusion cycles. Primary outcome was the change of cognitive function measured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), and secondary outcomes were changes of plasma biomarkers, cerebral hemodynamic parameters measured by vascular ultrasound and brain lesions measured by MRI FLAIR both at baseline and at the end of 1 year visit. Results: Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the RIC group had higher flow velocity (FV), and lower pulsatility index (PI), but without statistical difference. Patients in the RIC group had improvement in visuospatial and executive abilities (3.86±1.03 vs. 4.43±0.85, p=0.026), reduced plasma triglyceride (1.60±0.74 vs. 1.25±0.38, p=0.019), low density lipoprotein (2.89±0.81 vs. 2.26±0.67, p=0.003) and homocysteine (15.66±10.11 vs. 13.66±9.80 p=0.017). Similarly in the RIC group, the diastolic flow velocity (DFV) of middle cerebral artery (MCA) (right: 33.93±7.67 vs. 36.93±6.12, p=0.032; left: 33.93±7.67 vs. 36.93± 6.12, p=0.032) and the mean flow velocity (MFV) of left MCA (35.00±5.04 vs. 39.50±5.59, p=0.003) increased, and the PI of MCA (right: 1.11±0.19 vs. 1.02±0.14 p=0.030; left: 1.10±0.22 vs. 0.99±0.14, p=0.037) decreased. Conclusion: RIC appears to be potentially effective for improving cognition, enhancing cerebral perfusion, and modifying vascular risk factors in SVD patients. Further studies focusing on long-term neurological outcomes and potential mechanisms underlying RIC on SVD patients are needed.

scholarly journals Are morphologic features of recent small subcortical infarcts related to specific etiologic aspects?

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175628641983571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Eppinger ◽  
Thomas Gattringer ◽  
Lena Nachbaur ◽  
Simon Fandler ◽  
Lukas Pirpamer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Cerebral Circulation ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Large Artery ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Mri Features ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Brain Artery ◽  
Posterior Cerebral Circulation

Background: Recent small subcortical infarcts (RSSIs) mostly result from the occlusion of a single, small, brain artery due to intrinsic cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD). Some RSSIs may be attributable to other causes such as cardiac embolism or large-artery disease, and their association with coexisting CSVD and vascular risk factors may vary with morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. Methods: We retrospectively identified all inpatients with a single symptomatic MRI-confirmed RSSI between 2008 and 2013. RSSIs were rated for size, shape, location (i.e. anterior: basal ganglia and centrum semiovale posterior cerebral circulation: thalamus and pons) and MRI signs of concomitant CSVD. In a further step, clinical data, including detailed diagnostic workup and vascular risk factors, were analyzed with regard to RSSI features. Results: Among 335 RSSI patients (mean age 71.1 ± 12.1 years), 131 (39%) RSSIs were >15 mm in axial diameter and 66 (20%) were tubular shaped. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was present in 44 (13.1%) and an ipsilateral vessel stenosis > 50% in 30 (9%) patients. Arterial hypertension and CSVD MRI markers were more frequent in patients with anterior-circulation RSSIs, whereas diabetes was more prevalent in posterior-circulation RSSIs. Larger RSSIs occurred more frequently in the basal ganglia and pons, and the latter were associated with signs of large-artery atherosclerosis. Patients with concomitant AF had no specific MRI profile. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the contribution of different pathophysiological mechanisms to the occurrence of RSSIs in the anterior and posterior cerebral circulation. While there appears to be some general association of larger infarcts in the pons with large-artery disease, we found no pattern suggestive of AF in RSSIs.

scholarly journals Prevalence of the Frank’s sign by aetiopathogenic stroke subtype: A prospective analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261080
Author(s):  
Laura Sánchez-Cirera ◽  
Saima Bashir ◽  
Adina Ciscar ◽  
Carla Marco ◽  
Verónica Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Ischaemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Haemorrhagic Stroke ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Stroke Subtype ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stroke Subtypes ◽  
Artery Disease

Background and purpose The Frank’s sign is a diagonal earlobe crease running from the tragus to the edge of the auricle at an angle of 45°. Many studies have associated this sign with coronary artery disease and some with cerebrovascular disease. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of the Frank’s sign in patients suffering from acute stroke with a particular focus on its prevalence in each of the five aetiopathogenic stroke subtypes. Special interest is given to embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), correlating the sign with clinical and radiological markers that support an underlying causal profile in this subgroup. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study including 124 patients admitted consecutively to a stroke unit after suffering an acute stroke. The Frank’s sign was evaluated by the same blinded member of the research team from photographs taken of the patients. The stroke subtype was classified following SSS-TOAST criteria and the aetiological study was performed following the ESO guidelines. Results The Frank’s sign was present in 75 patients and was more prevalent in patients with an ischaemic stroke in comparison with haemorrhagic stroke (63.9 vs. 37.5, p<0.05). A similar prevalence was found in the different ischaemic stroke subtypes. The Frank’s sign was significantly associated with age, particularly in patients older than 70 who had vascular risk factors. Atherosclerotic plaques found in carotid ultrasonography were significantly more frequent in patients with the Frank’s sign (63.6%, p<0.05). Analysing the ESUS, we also found an association with age and a higher prevalence of the Frank’s sign in patients with vascular risk factors and a tendency to a high prevalence of atherosclerosis markers. Conclusion The Frank’s sign is prevalent in all aetiopathogenic ischaemic stroke subtypes, including ESUS, where it could be helpful in suspecting the underlying cardioembolic or atherothrombotic origin and guiding the investigation of atherosclerosis in patients with ESUS and the Frank’s sign.

scholarly journals Association between excessive premature atrial complexes and cryptogenic stroke: results of a case–control study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e029164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jithin K Sajeev ◽  
Anoop N Koshy ◽  
Helen Dewey ◽  
Jonathan M Kalman ◽  
Kevin Rajakariar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Ischaemic Stroke ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Cryptogenic Stroke ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Vascular Risk Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Control Study

ObjectiveRecent anticoagulation trials in all-comer cryptogenic stroke patients have yielded equivocal results, reinvigorating the focus on identifying reproducible markers of an atrial myopathy. We investigated the role of excessive premature atrial complexes (PACs) in ischaemic stroke, including cryptogenic stroke and its association with vascular risk factors.Methods and resultsA case–control study was conducted utilising a multicentre institutional stroke database to compare 461 patients with an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) with a control group consisting of age matched patients without prior history of ischaemic stroke/TIA. All patients underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring during the study period and atrial fibrillation was excluded. An excessive PAC burden, defined as ≥200 PACs/24 hours, was present in 25.6% and 14.7% (p<0.01), of stroke/TIA and control patients, respectively. On multivariate regression, excessive PACs (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.29 to 3.02; p<0.01), smoking (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.36; p<0.05) and hypertension (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.17; p<0.05) were independently associated with ischaemic stroke/TIA. Excessive PACs remained the strongest independent risk factor for the cryptogenic stroke subtype (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.28; p<0.05). Vascular risk factors that promote atrial remodelling, increasing age (≥75 years, OR 3.64; 95% CI 2.08 to 6.36; p<0.01) and hypertension (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.34; p<0.05) were independently associated with excessive PACs.ConclusionsExcessive PACs are independently associated with cryptogenic stroke and may be a reproducible marker of atrial myopathy. Prospective studies assessing their utility in guiding stroke prevention strategies may be warranted.

scholarly journals Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 stimulation elicits an enhanced inflammatory response in human obese patients with atherosclerosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent P.W. Scholtes ◽  
Dik Versteeg ◽  
Jean-Paul P.M. de Vries ◽  
Imo E. Hoefer ◽  
Arjan H. Schoneveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Carotid Artery Disease ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Obese Patients ◽  
Cd11b Expression ◽  
Activation Marker ◽  
Artery Disease

The innate immune response elicited by activation of TLRs (Toll-like receptors) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the activation status of the innate immune system. We therefore assessed the responsiveness of TLRs on circulating cells in two groups of patients with established atherosclerosis and related this to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-α release induced by TLR2 and TLR4 activation was measured in patients with established coronary [PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) study, n=78] or carotid artery disease [CEA (carotid endarterectomy) study, n=104], by stimulating whole blood samples with lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 ligand) and Pam3CSK4 [tripalmitoylcysteinylseryl-(lysyl)4; TLR2 ligand]. As an early activation marker, CD11b expression was measured by flow cytometry on CD14+ cells. Obesity was the ‘only’ risk factor that correlated with the TLR response. In both studies, obese patients had significantly higher TNF-α levels after stimulation of TLR2 compared with non-obese patients [16.9 (7.7–49.4) compared with 7.5 (1.5–19.2) pg/ml (P=0.008) in coronary artery disease and 14.6 (8.1–28.4) compared with 9.5 (6.1–15.7) pg/ml (P=0.015) in carotid artery disease; values are medians (interquartile range)]. Similar results were obtained following TLR4 stimulation. The enhanced inflammatory state in obese patients was also confirmed by a significant increased expression of the activation marker CD11b on circulating monocytes. In conclusion, obesity is associated with an enhanced TLR response in patients suffering from established atherosclerotic disease.

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