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Biomedical subjects

M T Barrellier

Publications and source records attributed to M T Barrellier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Obesity and risk of venous thromboembolism among postmenopausal women: differential impact of hormone therapy by route of estrogen administration. The ESTHER Study.

BACKGROUND: Oral estrogen use and elevated body mass index (BMI) increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Recent data suggest that transdermal estrogen might be safe with respect to thrombotic risk. However, the impact of transdermal estrogen on the association between overweight (25 kg m(-2) < BMI < or = 30 kg m(-2)) or obesity (BMI >30 kg m(-2)) and VTE risk has not been investigated. METHODS: We carried a multicenter case-control study of VTE among postmenopausal women aged 45-70 years, between 1999 and 2005, in France. Case population consisted of women with a first documented idiopathic VTE. We recruited 191 hospital cases matched with 416 hospital controls and 62 outpatient cases matched with 181 community controls. RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR) for VTE was 2.5 [95% confidence interval (CI):1.7-3.7] for overweight and 3.9 (95% CI: 2.2-6.9) for obesity. Oral, not transdermal, estrogen was associated with an increased VTE risk (OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 2.6-7.7 and OR = 1.1; 95% CI: 0.7-1.7, respectively). Compared with non-users with normal weight, the combination of oral estrogen use and overweight or obesity further enhanced VTE risk (OR = 10.2; 95% CI: 3.5-30.2 and OR = 20.6; 95% CI: 4.8-88.1, respectively). However, transdermal users with increased BMI had similar risk as non-users with increased BMI (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.8 and OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7-4.5 respectively for overweight; OR = 5.4; 95% CI: 2.1-14.1 and OR = 4.0; 95% CI: 2.1-7.8 respectively for obesity). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to oral estrogen, transdermal estrogen does not confer an additional risk of idiopathic VTE in women with increased BMI. The safety of transdermal estrogen on thrombotic risk has to be confirmed.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Early surgical treatment of Cyrano-nose haemangiomas with Rethi incision.

Nasal haemangiomas may cause great social distress. Complete involution of these haemangiomas does not usually result in a return to normality. The subcutaneous tumour infiltrates the alar cartilages, resulting in a globular aspect of the nasal tip. In this location, haemangiomas are slow to regress, and contour deformities result from the fibrofatty tissue that remains after total involution and also from definitive deformation of the nasal cartilages. Surgery to remove the affected tissue and preserve the anatomy seems to be the best treatment for these tumours. We report six cases of nasal haemangiomas removed using the Rethi incision and a double rim incision. This procedure allows complete dissection of the tumour, and leaves only a small scar. The alar cartilages are returned to their anatomical position to allow normal growth. Surgery is performed at around 2 years of age; skin excision is not necessary because spontaneous skin retraction occurs. Our patients were evaluated by their parents, the surgeon and members of the dermatology staff not involved in their treatment. Pain, scar and final aspect were evaluated using statistical analysis. The parents and surgeon rated the postoperative results as very satisfactory or satisfactory. The dermatology staff also reported improvement after surgery. The scar is nearly invisible and the procedure allows excision of large nasal haemangiomas.

Child, Preschool↗

[Prevalence of duplex ultrasonography detectable venous thrombosis in patients with suspected or acute pulmonary embolism].

OBJECTIVES: Duplex ultrasonography performance in detecting embolic foci has not been proven satisfactory compared with phlebography or autopsic findings. In case of suspected pulmonary embolism, the embolic focus is only discovered in 11 to 18% of the cases compared with more than 30% with phlebography. For overt acute pulmonary embolism, the discovery rate is in the 30 to 45% range versus 70 to 80% with phlebography or autopsy findings. This discrepancy might result from the fact that duplex ultrasonographic explorations are generally limited to the deep collectors at the cruropopliteal level. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of duplex ultrasonography detected venous thrombosis in patients with suspected or acute pulmonary embolism when the exploration includes the entire venous system from the inferior vena cava to the ankles and examines not only the deep collectors but also the muscle and superficial networks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included all patients with suspected pulmonary embolism referred to the emergency unit from January 1, 1995 through December 31, 1998. The patients' hospital files were used to determine the suspected pulmonary embolism population. The acute pulmonary embolism population was defined as the patients whose files contained documented proof of pulmonary embolism (highly probable ventilation/perfusion pulmonary scintigraphy, positive pulmonary angiography, positive proximal angioscan). Thrombosis of the deep venous collectors with or without associated superficial or muscular localization was classed as "deep venous thrombi" and superficial or muscular thrombosis without involvement of the deep collectors was classed as "other venous thrombi". Subpopliteal thrombosis was classed as distal and popliteal or suprapopliteal thrombosis as proximal. RESULTS: The suspected pulmonary embolism group included 352 patients, 118 men and 234 women aged 67.6 +/- 15.4 and 70.8 +/- 20.0 years respectively (m +/- SD). The acute pulmonary embolism group included 60 patients, 17 men and 43 women aged 66.2 +/- 12.5 and 69.7 +/- 16.6 years respectively. Overall prevalence of duplex-ultrasound detected venous thrombosis was 30.4% (107/352) (95%CI: 25.6-35.2) in the suspected pulmonary embolism group and 80% (48/60) (95%CI: 69.9-90.1) in the acute pulmonary embolism group. Deep venous thrombi reaching the collectors and proximal thrombi predominated. Prevalence of "other venous thrombi" and distal venous thrombi were 6.5% (23/352) and 11.4% (40/352) respectively in the suspected pulmonary embolism group and 15.0% (9/60) and 26.7% (16/60) in the acute pulmonary embolism group. The frequency of asymptomatic venous thrombosis of the lower limbs, irrespective of the localization, was 42.1% (45/107) in the suspected pulmonary embolism group and 52.1% (25/48) in the acute pulmonary embolism group. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of duplex-ultrasonography detected venous thrombosis in patients with suspected or proven pulmonary embolism found in this series was equivalent to the rates reported in phlebography and autopsy series. The prevalence was higher than usually reported for duplex-ultrasonography studies limited to the cruro-popliteal level. The difference came from the "other venous thrombi" and "distal deep venous thrombi" discovered by exploring the superficial and muscular networks and the calves. This study demonstrates the contribution of duplex-ultrasonography to the diagnostic strategy for pulmonary embolism.

Acute Disease↗

[Isolated iliac deep venous thrombosis. Study of 48 cases seen in 7 years among 18,297 echo-Doppler evaluations of the lower limbs].

UNLABELLED: Isolated iliac venous thrombosis (IIVT) is uncommon. Duplex ultrasonography of the iliac vessels is not recommended and not generally performed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of IIVT in a hospital recruitment population and to identify characteristic features of onset which might be associated with this localization in order to better target explorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 18,297 patients referred for Duplex-ultrasonographic exploration of possible deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs between January 1st 1994 and December 31st 2000. Selection of isolated iliac thrombosis, defined as the absence of retrograde extension to the common femoral vein, was made from the digitalized data recorded daily. The following factors were tested: sex, age, absence of clinical signs in the lower limb, presence of pulmonary signs. The raw odds ratios were calculated followed by construction of a multivariate logistic regression model. The circumstances of onset were retrieved from the patient's medical files. RESULTS: Isolated iliac venous thrombosis was discovered in 48 patients, i.e. 0.26% (95% CI 0.19%-0.35%) in the recruitment population and 0.82% (95% CI 0.61%-1.09%) among the 5827 patients with thrombosis. The common iliac was involved predominantly (35 out of 48). The left side predominated in women compared with men (24/36 versus 4/12) (p = 0.04). Specifically female circumstances (oral contraceptives, peri-obstetrical period) always led to a left localization. For the other identified circumstances (cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, orthopedic surgery, pelvic trauma), there was no predominant side. Variables explaining the multivariate model were sex, age (less than or more than 35 years), suspected pulmonary embolism, and age interaction with suspected pulmonary embolism. For women, the risk of IIVT was twice as high as for men (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.02-3.81). Young age was also a risk factor for IIVT and increased with suspected pulmonary embolism. The odds ratio for subjects under 35 varied from 4.20 (95% CI 1.79-9.84) without suspected pulmonary embolism to 35.01 (95% CI 14.78-82.89) with suspected pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: The incidence of isolated iliac venous thrombosis is very low (0.26) in this hospital recruitment population but reached 9.40% in young women under 35 with suspected pulmonary embolism. These age and sex characteristics are also the principal circumstances for the development of these thrombotic events (pregnancy, post partum period, oral contraception). Under these circumstances, it is necessary to carefully explore the iliac vessels with duplex ultrasonography.

Aged↗

[The use of an alcohol gel of ethyl cellulose in the treatment of venous malformations].

Absolute alcohol is the most effective treatment of venous malformations. We created an alcoholic sclerosing solution less diffusible and we report a preliminary study on 6 patients. The viscosity of the alcohol was enhanced with ethylcellulose and we treated 7 patients with VM. Two benign skin ulcerations were observed and one patient with a large VM of the face could be treated around the eyes in a dangerous area. The results are encouraging and a larger study is being performed.

Cellulose↗

Use of a regulating flap in the treatment of a large arteriovenous malformation of the scalp.

A patient presented with a large arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the scalp. Afferent arterial embolisation followed by repeated surgical partial excision did not prevent recurrence and haemorrhage. The malformation was controlled with a latissimus dorsi muscle free flap which was positioned on the malformation. Five years later, haemorrhages did not recur and the nidus has disappeared on the angiogram. The positioning of a well-vascularised free tissue transfer provided long-term palliation and the authors believe that this flap acted as a 'regulating flap'. As repeated surgery of these large AVMs always leads to rapid recurrences, the authors recommend treating large AVMs directly with a regulating flap when total excision is not possible.

Adult↗

[Discrepancies between the results of phlebography and Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of asymptotic venous thrombosis after total hip prosthesis. False negatives of phlebography or false positives of Doppler ultrasonography].

OBJECTIVES: Assess the diagnostic performance of phlebography and discrepancies with duplex ultrasonography in screening for asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty. Search for arguments which would favor contributing false-negatives or false-positives to one of the two exploration methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 24 patients who underwent the 2 explorations independently between day 7 and day 14 in a multicentric therapeutic trial of a new heparin. Discrepancies between the two techniques were recorded. Diagnostic performance of phlebography was calculated from contingency tables. The phlebograms were then reviewed with knowledge of the duplex ultrasonographic findings. The course of the venous thrombus after treatment was monitored with duplex ultrasonography. RESULTS: Phlebography allowed the diagnosis of thrombus formation in 9 patients. Ultrasonography provided the diagnosis in 14 cases out of 24. Sensitivity of phlebography compared with duplex ultrasonography was 64% (95% CI = 35.1-87.2) (9/14) and specificity was 100% (95% CI = 69.1-100) (10/10). Several localizations were not visualized with phlebography: 3 partially obstructive thrombi near the femoral junction, and 38 distal thrombi including 31 soleus thrombi (fig. 5). When the phlebograms were reviewed again, defects compatible with a partial thrombus were found for the 3 proximal localizations and for 2 of the distal localizations (fig. 1, 2, 4). None of the soleus localizations were visualized. Duplex ultrasonographic follow-up concerned 12 of the 14 patients with a thrombus identified by duplex ultrasonography involving 44 localizations. In five case, the operator was different from the operator for the initial duplex ultrasonography. Follow-up revealed: 1 new localization, 37 narrowings and 6 repermeabilizations. DISCUSSION: The coherence of the duplex ultrasonographic follow-up and the presence of images compatible with partial thrombus on the revised phlebograms which had been initially interpreted as wash out flow constitute a group of arguments suggesting that the discrepancies observed should be considered as phlebography false-negatives. This defect in the sensitivity of phlebography has been reported by others in the literature both for distal and proximal localizations.

Aged↗

[Post-thrombotic valvular lesions].

A patent lumen after deep vein thrombosis can be achieved but at the cost of valve destruction which occurs in 50 to 75% of the cases within 6 to 12 months after the thrombotic event. The diagnosis of post-thrombotic valve destruction is made on the basis of direct consequences of venous back flow. Photoplethysmographic measurement of venous filling pressure while walking or after a Valsava manoeuvre lacks specificity and is insufficiently sensitive, especially in case of minimal back flow. Retrograde femoral phlebography can miss distal back flow if the femoral valves functions correctly. Dynamic popliteal phlebography in the upright position could be the reference examination. Ultrasonography-Doppler is however widely used as the first intention investigation providing a positive diagnosis, recognizing the localization and quantifying the back flow. The patient is placed in the upright position and reflux is checked after standardized distal compression. The ultrasonographic aspect (fibrosis, thick wall, tributary vessels) gives further arguments for differential diagnosis. The consequences of valve destruction on skin trophicity appear to be worse than non-repermeation after a thrombotic event. Surgical repair (transposition, transplantation, valvuloplasty) should be proposed for young patients with severe trophicity disorders which resist well-conducted medical treatment. The rate of failure is approximately 50% i.e. higher than for primary valve destruction.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Detection of deep vein thrombosis of the limbs by ultrasound in orthopedic and traumatologic surgery. Results of 1647 studied patients].

INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken to estimate the efficiency of duplex ultrasound scanning and its utility to detect deep vein thrombosis in orthopedic patients and to describe their features. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1647 in-patients, all receiving low-molecular-weight heparin, were investigated from 1989 to 1993, either for screening because of a high risk of thrombosis (asymptomatic group: 930 patients, mean age + SD: 63 + 17 years) or for clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (symptomatic group: 717 patients, mean age + SD: 57 + 21 years). Difference between the two groups mean ages was significant (p < 10(-8)). An Hitachi EUB 450 duplex and an Acuson colour duplex 128 XP, with 3.5 MHz and 7.5 MHz linear probes were used. Veins were tested for compressibility in the transverse view from caval site to both ankles. Retrospective analysis of patients' database results was done. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in deep vein thrombosis rate between screening asymptomatic group (356/930: 38 per cent) and symptomatic group (2531717: 35 per cent). There was a linear relation, in the 2 groups, between age and deep vein thrombosis rate, from 10 per cent before twenty to 45 per cent after eighty years old. For a relative risk to have thrombosis detected before twenty definite at 1, it was 2.1 for 20-29, 4.9 for 40-49, 6.2 for 60-69 and 8.6 later than 80 years old. Proximal deep vein thrombosis was detected in only 5 per cent (87/1647) of patients. Distal muscular soleal veins were the most usual involved sites of thrombosis. Isolated soleal thrombosis were detected in 16 per cent (270/1647) of patients. There was no significant difference between the deep vein thrombosis rate after total knee or hip arthroplasty among selected patients for duplex scanning from 1989, and the true prevalence assessed among all the patients who have undergone total hip or knee arthroplasty during the last 6 months. DISCUSSION: Pessimistic results previously reported for duplex screening among asymptomatic patients are not confirmed. Calf vein thrombosis rate assessed with duplex exceeds by 15 to 20 per cent the rates assessed by contrast venography, among patients receiving low molecular weight heparins. That difference could be attributed to the isolated muscular soleal thrombosis usually missed at contrast venography. CONCLUSION: Deep vein thrombosis rate among orthopedic surgical patients, is much higher when detected with Duplex ultrasound scanning than detected with contrast venography, and is related to patient age. Soleal vein thrombosis is the most prevalent. Duplex ultrasound scanning is an efficient and useful screening method for deep vein thrombosis in orthopedic surgery. Mechanical calf venous pump stimulation in association with low molecular weight heparin, has to be evaluated in attempting to reduce those muscular soleal veins thrombosis.

Adult↗

[Venous thromboembolic disease in a geriatric environment. Importance of its detection and treatment].

The elderly population is particularly exposed to risk of venous thromboembolism because the risk of thrombosis increases with age but also because of the side effects of anticoagulant therapy. Clinical signs are neither sensitive nor specific and systematic screen for deep vein thrombosis in elderly patients could be justified using noninvasive techniques such as echo-Doppler or assay of D-Dimers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of venous thrombosis diagnosed by echo-Doppler screening in a population of institutionalized elderly subjects. The frequency of risk factors and the cost of screening and subsequent health care were also evaluated. This study included 96 patients who underwent systematic echo-Doppler measurements. Clinical, biological and echographic data were recorded on individual file-cards for analysis. The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis diagnosis was 13.5% (13/96). All the deep vein thromboses discovered were in the popliteal area. No high risk group was found and there was found and there was no significant link with clinical signs or the level of D-Dimers. The cost of diagnosis and treatment in the particular conditions of our study were 5000 and 10,700 FRF respectively for each deep vein thrombosis diagnosed. The cost of diagnostic screening and treatment should be considered in light of the life expectancy and quality of life in this population. Thus in elderly institutionalized subjects, it would appear not to be reasonable to undertake systematic screening for venous thrombosis using echo-Doppler or D-Dimer assay.

Aged↗

[Echo-Doppler for early diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis in orthopedic surgery and traumatology. A retrospective study of 1,647 patients].

UNLABELLED: The authors report the results of duplex ultrasound scanning investigation for the detection of deep venous thrombosis after orthopedic surgery and compare asymptomatic and symptomatic populations. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To estimate the rate of deep venous thrombosis diagnosed by duplex scanning in those 2 populations and precise their features. MATERIAL: A total of 1,647 in-patients all receiving low-molecular-weight heparin and investigated from 1989 to 1993. either for screening because of high risk of thrombosis (asymptomatic group: 930 patients, mean age +/- SD 63 +/- 17 years) or for clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (symptomatic group; 717 patients, mean age +/- SD: 57 +/- 21 years). Difference between the two groups mean ages were significant (p < 10(-8). METHODS: An Hitachi EUB 450 duplex and an Acuson colour duplex 128 XP, with 3.5 MHz and 7.5 MHz linear probes were used. Veins were tested for compressibility in transverse view from caval site to both ankles. Retrospective analysis of patients database results has been achieved. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in deep vein thrombosis rate between screening asymptomatic group (356/930:38%) and symptomatic group (253/717: 35%). There was a linear relation, in the 2 groups, between age and deep vein thrombosis rate, from 10% before twenty to 45% after eighty years old. For a relative risk to have thrombosis detected before twenty definite at 1, it was 2.1 for 20-29, 4.9 for 40-49, 6.2 for 60-69 and 8.6 later than 80 years old. Proximal deep vein thrombosis was detected in only 5% (87/1,647) of patients. Distal muscular soleal veins were the most usual involved sites of thrombosis. Isolated soleal thrombosis were detected in 16% (270/1,647) of patients. There was non significant difference between the deep vein thrombosis rate after total knee or hip arthroplasty among selected patients for duplex scanning from 1989, and the true prevalence assessed among all the patients who have undergone total hip or knee arthroplaty during the last 6 months. DISCUSSION: Pessimistic results previously reported for duplex screening among asymptomatic patients are not confirmed. Calf vein thrombosis rate assessed by duplex scanning exceeds by 15 a 20% usual rates assessed by contrast venography, among patients receiving low-molecular-weight heparins. That difference could be assigned to the isolated muscular soleal thrombosis usually missed at contrast venography. CONCLUSION: Deep vein thrombosis rate among orthopedic surgical patients, is much higher when detected with Duplex ultrasound scanning than detected with contrast venography, and is related to patient age. Screening for deep venous thrombosis by duplex scanning in orthopedic surgery is as efficient among asymptomatic as among symptomatic patients and could become soon a systematic screening. Soleal vein thrombosis are the most usual. Mechanical calf venous pump stimulation in association with low molecular weight heparin, has to be evaluated in attempting to reduce those muscular soleal veins thrombosis.

Aged↗

[Venous echo Doppler: a future standard test in the diagnosis of thrombosis of the lower limbs?].

Duplex ultrasound imaging provides both an ultrasound picture of the tissue being explored and the sound of the flow speed in a particular area. Colour Doppler imaging gives colour codes for the different flow rates. Venous pathology is always investigated, with ultrasound, on both sides, at the iliac and caval, femoral, and foreleg levels. For the latter, excellent equipment and patient position are required. Ultrasound criteria of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) are the incompressibility of the vein being investigated, and detection of the thrombosis with the ultrasound probe. Doppler criteria are asymmetric spontaneous flows, the loss of their respiratory rhythm, and the lack of flow induced by contraction of muscle. The colour Doppler draws provides the contours of a partial or floating thrombus. Compared with phlebography, ultrasound imaging has a sensitivity and specificity of 96%. Colour Doppler imaging is even more accurate: both sensitivity and specificity increase to 100%. The limitations of ultrasound are: its dependence on the investigator, the difficulty of making the diagnosis of recurring DVT when there already are previous sequellae, obesity, intra-abdominal gas, skin lesions or inflammatory oedema. Phlebography remains necessary in 5% of cases. The advantages of this technique are its non invasiveness, excellent diagnostic performance, low cost, and the possibility of diagnosing another cause, whether responsible for the clinical signs or not. It is indicated for the diagnosis of DVT, routine screening in patients at risk, and the early and late follow-up of patients. Today, ultrasound imaging should always be carried out before other investigations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Decision Trees↗

[Duplex ultrasonography in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the legs. Agreement between two operators].

The operator-dependent nature of venous Duplex-ultrasonography diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the leg is the principal reproach applied to it and a reason for delaying use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate concordance between two operators, with rigorous application of the same methodology of exploration of the venous axes. The study included 82 patients under hospital care, randomly selected from among those referred for the first Duplex-ultrasonography examination for DVT, and having accepted to undergo 2 consecutive explorations, one by each of the two operators. The two operators evaluated independently, for the 19 venous axes of the legs: 1: the interpretability of the examination, 2: the differential diagnosis between: absence of thrombus, presence of thrombus, nonconclusive examination, and 3: the score for the DVT extension. Evaluation of concordance of diagnosis was by Cohen's kappa coefficient, calculated on the positive diagnosis of DVT and the site of the most proximal thrombus. Extension scores were compared by calculation of the coefficient of correlation "r". Interpretability rates were 92% and 91% respectively for the two operators, 35 DVT being diagnosed in 27 patients by operator A and 36 DVT in 27 patients by operator B. The kappa coefficient for diagnosis of DVT with localization in the affected leg was 0.90 [0.81-0.98]. It was 0.89 [0.73-1] for proximal lesions, 0.86 [0.74-0.97] for the lower leg level, and 0.79 for localization of the proximal extremity of the thrombus. Extension scores evaluated by the two operators were 2.88 and 3.14 respectively, with a coefficient of correlation between the extension scores of 0.96. The 5 diagnostic divergences concerned the lower leg level; the 2 localization discordances concerned: the frontier zones leg-lower popliteal, lower femoral-upper popliteal. Good concordance between results of the two operators using Duplex-ultrasonography exploration was obtained even though the majority of the DVT were in the calf, a region known to be explored with difficulty. Overcoming the operator-dependent character of Duplex-ultrasonography by a rigorous exploratory methodology could make it the future reference examination for the diagnosis of DVT.

Female↗

[Prospective etiologic study of 128 patients with ambulatory dep vein thrombosis].

Etiology of deep vein thrombosis in ambulant patients (DVTA = TVPA in text) varies: cancer, blood disease, infectious focus, dysimmunity syndrome, dysglobulinemia, extrinsic compression, metabolic disorder, anomaly of hemostasis. A prospective study was carried out between June 1988 and September 1989 by angiologists in 5 regions of France to evaluate the diagnostic rentability of an epidemiologic survey and to determine possible distinctive characters of DVTA. The survey was comprised of a questionnaire, a full clinical examination and screening tests: chest x-ray, abdominopelvic ultrasound imaging, a-uro/gynecologic examination, full blood count, serum iron, ferritin, uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, protein electrophoresis, antinuclear antibodies, circulating anticoagulant, hemostasis factors and liver function tests. The study included 128 patients, mean age 60 +/- 16 years with a DVTA developing without a previous immobilization. The usual predominance in the left leg was not observed. The etiology was identified in 33 cases, including 20 (15.6%) as a result of the screening tests: anomalies of hemostasis (8), blood diseases (3), dysimmunity syndromes (4), extrinsic compression (3), cancer metastasis (1) and hypertriglyceridemia in a diabetic (1). The screening procedure was of no greater value in the absence of a triggering or predisposing factor, on the contrary. An anomaly of hemostasis was detected more frequently in the presence of local or regional triggering factors in the men (4 out of 4) and in the women on the pill (4 out of 4). The number of cancers discovered following screening (2%) was smaller than that expected according to the literature (10%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Reticulated and necrotic purpura (necrotic angiodermatitis type) due to arterial calcifications in chronic renal insufficiency].

Hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure is often accompanied by metastatic calcification with involvement of the skin. The cutaneous lesions appear to be of two types: in the first there was massive calcification of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue; in the second there was necrotic purpura due to intimal proliferation and medial calcification of the cutaneous arterioles. We report the case of a 75-year-old-woman with osteodystrophy who had painful necrotic ulcer and reticulated purpura of the legs (fig. 1 a, b). The new lesions progressed by lateral extension and central necrosis. Biopsy of the skin underlying the purpuric areas revealed intimal proliferation with narrowing of the lumen (fig. 2 a, 3). The most prominent feature was the considerable intimal and internal elastic membrane calcification in several small arteries (fig. 4 a, 5). Von Kossa's stain showed calcium to be present (fig. 2 b, 4 b). There was no calcification of the tunica media. Serum calcium phosphorus product was increased (table I). Tubular reabsorption of phosphate was abnormally low. The serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone was normal. An iliac crest biopsy revealed the classical lesions of osteodystrophy. Her skin lesions showed spontaneous resolution without parathyroidectomy: the ulcers were healing within two months. A progressive reticulated necrotic purpura has previously been reported in chronic renal failure with secondary hyperparathyroidism. These black ischemic lesions bear a strong resemblance to those accompany atheromatous necrotic angiodermatitis. The metastatic calcification seen in uremia often involves the media; the present case is the first to be reported with intimal calcification.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗