Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency is unlikely to be a direct trigger of multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, a vascular pathology affecting the veins draining the central nervous system can accompany multiple sclerosis and is suspected to be involved in its pathogenesis. Objective This study was aimed at exploring a potential role for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in triggering multiple sclerosis. If it were venous abnormalities responsible for neurological pathology, one should expect negative correlation, i.e. more severe vascular lesions in the patients with early onset of multiple sclerosis. Methods Localization and degree of venous blockages in 350 multiple sclerosis patients were assessed using catheter venography. …

Diagnostic accuracy of current sonographic criteria for the detection of outflow abnormalities in the internal jugular veins

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluation of the diagnostic value of Doppler sonography for the assessment of abnormalities in the internal jugular veins (IJVs). Method: One hundred and sixteen IJVs were assessed in 58 patients with associated multiple sclerosis. Findings of Doppler sonography were compared with results of the reference test: catheter venography. Results: At least one positive extracranial sonographic criterion suggesting venous abnormality was found in 92.2% of the assessed veins. Yet, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of sonography were low: 93.4%, 12.0%, 79.4% and 33.3% for at least one positive criterion, and for at least two positiv…

Endovascular treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: is the procedure safe?

Objectives The aim of this report is to assess the safety of endovascular treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Although balloon angioplasty and stenting seem to be safe procedures, there are currently no data on the treatment of a large group of patients with this vascular pathology. Methods A total of 564 endovascular procedures (balloon angioplasty or, if this procedure failed, stenting) were performed during 344 interventions in 331 CCSVI patients with associated multiple sclerosis. Results Balloon angioplasty alone was performed in 192 cases (55.8%), whereas the stenting of at least one vein was required in the remaining 152 cases (44.2%). There were no majo…

Revascularization technique for a long occlusive lesion in a case of symptomatic chronic occlusion of the internal carotid artery

Mid-term and late results of endovascular treatment for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis under proximal protection

Introduction: Although filters are still preferred during carotid stenting, proximal protection systems (PPS) are increasingly used during these procedures. PPS seem to be safer than distal systems, especially in symptomatic patients, but evidence supporting their use is limited. Aim: This was a post hoc survey with 30-day mid-term and long-term follow up, which was aimed at assessment of the safety and efficacy of stenting of the internal carotid artery under PPS in symptomatic patients. Material and methods: We analysed the results of stenting in 120 symptomatic patients presenting with at least 60% stenosis. Patients were aged 67.9 ±9.8 years, and 12 patients were older than 80 years. An…

Optimal interventional treatment in a patient with occlusion of the brachiocephalic trunk and left subclavian artery with “double” steal syndrome

Subclavian steal syndrome, which comprises reversal of flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery with stenosis or occlusion of the subclavian artery (SA) or brachiocephalic trunk (BCT), was first described by Contorni in 1960 [1]. This clinical syndrome manifests with the signs and symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, but can also be asymptomatic. This paper describes a step-by-step technique of complex endovascular treatment for a double steal syndrome caused by occlusions of the BCT and the left SA, associated with stenosis of the left internal carotid artery (ICA) and reversed flow in the left external carotid artery (ECA).

Mechanical rotational thrombectomy with Rotarex system augmented with drug-eluting balloon angioplasty vs. stenting for the treatment of acute thrombotic and critical limb ischaemia in the femoropopliteal segment

Introduction Mechanical thrombectomy is an alternative to local thrombolysis for the treatment of severe ischaemia in the femoropopliteal segment, but stent implantation is usually required after this procedure. The use of drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) may overcome long-term problems associated with stents, but it remains unclear how often such a treatment is technically feasible and efficient. Aim This post hoc single-centre study was aimed at assessment of the feasibility, safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy followed by application of DEBs. Material and methods Fifty-one patients, aged 69.1 ±11.6 years, were managed for acute thrombotic or chronic critical ischaemia in the femor…

Endovascular embolectomy of the superior mesenteric artery using the Rotarex® system for the treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia.

The use of a proximal protection system, a reperfusion catheter, and new-generation mesh stents in combined endovascular therapy for a long, symptomatic dissection of the right internal carotid artery.

Blood flow in the internal jugular veins during the spaceflight - Is it actually bidirectional?

Recently intriguing results of the research performed on astronauts of the International Space Station have been published. Unexpectedly, in some crew members a stagnant and bidirectional flow in the internal jugular vein was found, and in one of the astronauts this vein seemed to be totally thrombosed. If it actually were the case that in the settings of weightlessness there is a substantial risk of jugular vein thrombosis, any long-term human space missions would be extremely dangerous. Yet, we interpret these findings differently. In our opinion, what has been explained as bidirectional flow, actually represented the flow separation, and what has been described as occluded vein was rathe…

Mechanical thrombectomy for rescue treatment of severe thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus with the use of Penumbra and AngioJet catheters

Early results of endovascular treatment of patients with bilateral stenoses of the internal carotid arteries using proximal protection systems at 30-day follow-up

Abstract Background Although surgical endarterectomy remains the treatment of choice for carotid artery stenosis, carotid artery stenting (CAS) with use of proximal protection systems (PPS) plays an very important role as alternative treatment modality, especially in patients with critical, symptomatic lesions. This study was single-centre study to evaluate the technical and clinical success of proximal protection devices as the first choice for embolic protection in symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis in patients with bilateral, advanced lesions of carotid arteries (bilateral stenoses or stenosis and occlusion). Methods This was a post hoc analysis, with 30-day follow up. We anal…

Retinal abnormalities in multiple sclerosis patients with associated chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive method for the assessment of optic nerve fibers and retinal ganglion cells. This study was aimed at the assessment of retinal abnormalities in multiple sclerosis patients in the context of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency using OCT of the retina and the optic nerve. We examined 239 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, including 220 patients with associated chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and 19 MS patients without venous pathology. The following OCT parameters were assessed: average ganglion cell complex thickness, global loss volume, focal loss volume and average retinal nerve fibre layer thickness. Abnormalities in the…

Cerebral venous outflow in the prone position

Numerical modeling of blood flow in the internal jugular vein with the use of computational fluid mechanics software.

ObjectivesTo determine the site and nature of altered hemodynamics in pathological internal jugular veins.MethodWith the use of computational fluid mechanics software we simulated blood flow in 3 D models of the internal jugular veins that exhibited different morphologies, including nozzle-like strictures in their upper parts and valves in the lower parts.ResultsIn a majority of models with nozzle-like strictures, especially those positioned asymmetrically, abnormal flow pattern was revealed, with significant flow separation and regions with reversed flow. Abnormal valves had no significant impact on flow in a case of already altered flow evoked by stricture in upper part of the vein.Conclu…

Endovascular management of carotid artery dissections with the use of new generation stents and protection systems

Dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare disease, but in young patients is responsible for about 20% of cerebral events. We presented three different cases of ICA dissection, including one iatrogenic and two spontaneous ones, which were successfully managed endovascularly, with the use of different techniques, different protection devices and stents. In this article, the clinical management and details of procedures were described.

Possible Role of Glymphatic System of the Brain in the Pathogenesis of High-Altitude Cerebral Edema

Simka, Marian, Paweł Latacz, and Joanna Czaja. Possible role of glymphatic system of the brain in the pathogenesis of high-altitude cerebral edema. High Alt Med Biol. 19:394–397, 2018.—In this article, we suggest that the glymphatic system of the brain can play an important role in the pathogenesis of high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Water enters the intercellular space of the brain primarily through aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) water channels, the main component of the glymphatic system, whereas acetazolamide, pharmacological agent used in the prevention of HACE, is the blocker of the AQP-4 molecule. In animal experiments, cerebral edema caused by hypobaric hypoxia was associated with an increa…

Endovascular therapy of symptomatic high-grade stenosis of left internal carotid artery in C6 segment using Elutax “3” Neuro pDEB

Endovascular management of carotid and vertebral artery dissections with new generation double-mesh stent and protection systems – single-center early and midterm results

Introduction Symptomatic dissections (SD) of cervical arteries are still a therapeutic problem. Although endovascular management (EM) is currently a preferred method of treatment of SD, complications associated with this method of treatment in published reports are quite frequent (3-16%). Aim In this retrospective study we analyzed the results of EM with novel, double-mesh stent and protection systems (PS) for SD of the internal carotid (IC) or vertebral arteries (VA) that coexisted with hemodynamically significant stenosis or aneurysmatic dilatation of the dissected artery. Material and methods We evaluated the results of EM in 19 patients (men 15, median age: 55, range: 25-83), presenting…

Factor V Leiden distribution – could it shed some light on the pre-history of Europe and the Near East?

Polymorphism of clotting factor V, comprising Arg506Gln substitution in the factor V molecule, commonly known as Factor V Leiden, represents the most common heritable risk factor for thrombotic events in Indo-Europeans and some Semitic nations. Although it is suggested that this mutation is associated with a survival advantage that has facilitated the spread of this polymorphism in the human population, in this paper we argue against such a Darwinian evolutionary mechanism responsible for the high prevalence of FV Leiden in some countries. Instead, we propose that cultural, climatic, and geographic factors played a role. Taking into account the current distribution of FV Leiden polymorphism…

Patient- and lesion-tailored algorithm of endovascular treatment for arterial occlusive disease of extracranial arteries supplying the brain: safety of the treatment at 30-day follow-up

Introduction: Although surgical endarterectomy remains the treatment of choice for carotid artery stenosis, stenting plays an important role as an alternative treatment modality, especially in high-risk patients. The actual safety profile associated with stenting procedures is probably better than that reported by randomized controlled trials. Aim : To assess the safety of stent implantations in extracranial arteries supplying the brain, and also to identify risk factors associated with this procedure. Material and methods: This was a post hoc analysis, with 30-day follow-up. We analyzed the results of treatment of 372 patients who underwent 408 procedures, 197 such procedures in asymptomat…

Endothelin-1 concentrations in the internal jugular and azygous veins in multiple sclerosis patients: the results of a pilot study

Objectives: In this pilot study we examined the potent vasoconstrictor, endothelin-1, in the blood of multiple sclerosis patients in the context of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency hypothesis. For this purpose we measured endothelin-1 concentrations in blood samples that were obtained during selective catheterisation of the main veins draining the central nervous system: the internal jugular veins and the azygous vein. Material and methods: We measured endothelin-1 concentrations in peripheral blood in nine multiple sclerosis patients and five healthy controls. In multiple sclerosis patients this peptide was also evaluated in blood samples obtained from the internal jugular veins …

Treatment of high- and intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism using the AngioJet percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy system in patients with contraindications for thrombolytic treatment – a pilot study

Introduction Intravenous thrombolysis is the treatment of choice in patients presenting with high- and intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism. The role of percutaneous mechanical pulmonary thrombectomy (PMPT) is not fully established, although selected patients can be managed with this method. Aim This open-label single-centre prospective pilot study was aimed at assessing the feasibility of PMPT for the treatment of severe pulmonary embolism in a Polish hospital. We also evaluated the safety and efficacy of such management. Material and methods We managed 7 patients, aged 52.7 ±16.6 years, presenting with high- and intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (4 patients with class 5 and one patient…

Safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for carotid artery stenoses using proximal protection systems : 30-day follow-up

Introduction. Although surgical endarterectomy remains the treatment of choice for carotid artery stenosis, carotid artery stenting (CAS) with use of proximal protection systems (PPS) plays an important role as alternative treatment modality, especially in high risk patients. This study was aimed at the assessment of safety of CAS with use of the PPS and also at identification of risk factors associated with this procedure. Material and methods. This was a post hoc analysis, with 30-day follow-up. We analysed results of treatment of 94 patients who underwent 97 CAS with PPS, 47 such procedures in asymptomatic, and 50 in symptomatic individuals. Results. There were 0 strokes during 30-day fo…

Endovascular thrombectomy with the AngioJet System for the treatment of intermediate-risk acute pulmonary embolism: a case report of two patients

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of death and ranks third, after myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke, among fatal hospital-related cardiovascular events [1–3]. Mortality associated with PE can be lowered by early treatments aimed at restoring patency of occluded pulmonary arteries (PAs). Although systemic thrombolysis remains the recommended management of PE [4], recent advances in endovascular techniques, especially of rheolytic thrombectomy, suggest that the endovascular approach can represent an alternative therapeutic strategy [5–9]. Here we describe endovascular treatment of two patients with acute PE. We used the AngioJet (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA,…

Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy of the inferior vena cava and iliac veins with the use of Aspirex®S device in a paediatric patient

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens, which is the most severe clinical presentation of deep venous thrombosis and results from an almost complete occlusion of the major and collateral venous outflow routes from the extremity, is very rarely seen in children. Here we describe the treatment of an 11-year-old boy with Down syndrome who presented with thrombotic occlusion of the inferior vena cava and both iliac veins. We present a step-by-step technique of endovascular mechanical thrombectomy of these veins with the use of the Aspirex®S thrombectomy device. Endovascular treatment was followed by local intravenous thrombolysis. Because of recurrent thrombosis, which occurred 4 days later, endovascular th…

More new ischemic cerebral lesions revealed by diffusion-weighted imaging magnetic resonance imaging after carotid eversion endarterectomy in comparison with carotid stenting under proximal protection: the results of randomized prospective trial

Multiple sclerosis, an unlikely cause of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: retrospective analysis of catheter venography.

Objectives It is unknown if a relationship exists between multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and if this venous pathology is a causal factor for multiple sclerosis or is a product of a neurological disease. Even so, one should expect that if multiple sclerosis were the cause for venous lesions, then patients with an extended history of the disease would present with a more severe venous pathology. Design Retrospective analysis of catheter venography of the azygous and internal jugularveins, and duration of clinical history of the disease in multiple sclerosis patients. Setting Mono-profile specialist hospital. Participants 353 multiple sclerosis patients, with…