[Evaluation of professional practices and the "Collège Français de Pathologie Vasculaire"].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Priollet.
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OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of aspirin among patients with lower limb occlusive arterial disease. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of trials issuing from a collaborative meta-analysis of randomized trials of anti-platelet therapy for prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients. Five trials were identified as comparing aspirin (with or without dipyridamole) to placebo, in 1 029 patients with lower limb occlusive arterial disease. There was no new publication found comparing aspirin and placebo in lower limb occlusive arterial disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: As in the main meta-analysis, "serious vascular event": non fatal myocardial infarction, non fatal stroke or vascular death. RESULTS: Among these 1 029 patients, allocation to aspirin did not reduce the outcome of serious vascular event, nor of any of the individual events. This result, as opposed to the enhancement of 23% +/- 8% announced in the main meta-analysis, clearly demonstrate that the beneficial effect cannot be attributable to aspirin. DISCUSSION: In the collaborative meta-analysis, aspirin was the most widely used product (75% of the trials) and it showed its beneficial effect when administered at doses ranging from 75 to 150 mg/day, as compared to placebo. Among the other anti-platelet treatments analyzed, clopidogrel was the only product for which large scale randomized evidence versus aspirin was available. Various national health institutions, in the United States as well as in Europe, show a major concern regarding the use of anti-platelet treatments, in peripheral arterial occlusive disease as well as in other manifestations of cardiovascular disease. Their guidelines take of course the patient's health into account but the economical aspect of this prevention is increasingly hard to circumvent. Based on the results of the collaborative meta-analysis, these guidelines all recommend a lifetime use of low doses of aspirin, reserving clopidogrel for patients intolerant to aspirin, mainly because they do not consider the additional benefit recognized with clopidogrel as important enough to counterbalance the cost of the treatment. While aspirin as a first choice antiplatelet therapy cannot be discussed in coronary disease, after a myocardial infarction, or in cerebrovascular disease, its use in lower limb occlusive arterial disease does not enable a reduction in morbi-mortality. From an economical point of view, the use of a cheap but inefficient preventive treatment could also lead to an increased cost for curing the complications expected with an uncontrolled widely spread disease as chronic lower limb ischemia.
BACKGROUND: Cerebral infarction (CI), myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and aortic atheroma are the main clinical manifestations of atherothrombosis. Long-term prevention after CI of atherothrombotic origin may require preventive measures at other sites, such as specific drug therapies, surgery, or angioplasty. Therefore the detection of other locations is potentially important. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to describe the other locations of atherothrombosis in patients hospitalized for a recent cerebral infarct of atherothrombotic origin. Secondary objectives were to describe their vascular risk factor profiles, and their management before and after the cerebral event. METHOD: This prospective, observational, multicenter survey was conducted in France between September 2003 and July 2004, mainly in neurological departments and stroke units. RESULTS: 753 patients were included (74% men; mean age 69.3 years). Previous coronary events had occurred in 119 (16%). Previous stroke or transient ischemic attacks had occurred in 233 (31%). PAD was already known in 109 (15%). A search for other atherothrombotic locations was positive in 216 patients (29%). The minimum prevalence for any associated atherothrombotic location (either present before or identified during hospitalization) was 47.5% for any location, 33.7% for coronary artery disease, 16.6% for aortic atheroma, and 22.7% for PAD. CONCLUSION: Fifty percent of the patients with recent atherothrombotic CI have other locations of atherothrombosis. For this reason, a systematic search for these other locations is recommended because of the possible therapeutic consequences. However, the question of the most appropriate period for this search after the cerebral event remains unsettled.
Thrombotic events are frequent in polycythemia vera (PV) and in essential thrombocythemia (ET). The frequency of thrombotic complications at presentation of PV and ET is nearly 50%. The spectrum of thrombotic complications is broad: thrombosis of arteries, veins and microvessels have been reported. Venous thrombosis can involve all territories but PV and TE are the commonest underlying etiology for Budd-Chiari Syndrome and splanchnic veins thrombosis. Endogenous erythroid-colony formation may be seen in up to 78% of patients thought to have Budd Chiari Syndrome and in 48% of splanchnic veins thrombosis. Major arterial thrombotic complications occur in 20%, especially in the extremities and in cerebral circulation. Microcirculatory disturbances are common in ET, occurring in 29% at presentation and 27% during follow up. In the extremities, erythromelalgia, a characteristic syndrome of red and congested extremities with raised temperature and painful burning sensations, is noticed in 30 to 50% of TE. Other microcirculatory manifestations like acrocyanosis, blue toes, digital gangrene can occur. All of these manifestations are highly sensitive to aspirin. Cerebral microcirculatory symptoms occur in about one-third of patients: migraine, transient visual symptoms like scotomata, blurred vision are characterized by a sudden onset, a short duration and a sequential course. Three kinds of leg ulcers have been described: leg ulceration as a consequence of microcirculatory thrombosis, exceptionally, pyoderma gangrenosum, and leg ulcers attributed to side effects of hydroxyurea. Microcirculatory leg ulcers are the most common: they are painful, inflammatory and sometimes, necrotic. They heal with treatment of SMP. Hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcers are painful, fibrous and multiple in 60%. Cessation of hydroxyurea typically leads to wound healing. The Polycythemia Vera Study Group (PVSG) established diagnostic criteria for PV and TE. Because SMP can have incompletely expressed disease, other authors have proposed determination of serum erythropoietin, examination of bone marrow histology, and spontaneous endogenous colony assays for diagnosis of PV or TE. The individual thrombotic risk depends on elevated hematocrit for PV, age (> 60) and prior thrombosis for PV and TE. Congenital and acquired (antiphospholipid syndrome) thrombotic states probably increase the risk of thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic atherothrombotic lesions and the absolute risk of vascular events in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of studies published between 1980 and 2004 which allowed calculating prevalence of asymptomatic lesions and absolute risks of vascular events in stroke patients. Studies included in the review of absolute risks had to include at least 100 patients followed for at least 1 year and with less than 5% of lost to follow-up. RESULTS: Coronarography was used in only one study which does not provide any precise estimation of the prevalence of asymptomatic coronary lesions. Depending on the population and the method used for the diagnosis of coronary disease, the prevalence of asymptomatic coronary artery disease ranged from 25 through 60%. Very few studies have been devoted to the prevalence of abdominal aortic disease in stroke patients. The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm has been estimated to 1% and that of peripheral arterial disease to 10%. Thirty-six cohorts were identified. The absolute risk of myocardial infarction was about 2%/year and that of vascular death 2%/year. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients carry a high risk of coronary and vascular events. Additional studies are required to better identify patients with a high prevalence of asymptomatic atherosclerotic lesions and with a high risk of vascular events.
OBJECTIVE: In spite of increasing use of prophylactic treatments, venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) remains an important public health problem because of its high morbidity and mortality, in particular after major orthopedic surgery. The aim of this study is to provide an assessment of current medical management of VTD and post-thrombotic disease (PTD) in France. METHOD: A random sample of 210 investigators including hospital practitioners (orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists), general practitioners (GP), and angiologists working in the ambulatory setting completed a standardized questionnaire about their current medical practice. RESULTS: VTD led to an additional 8.5 days of hospital stay needed for the management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 15.8 days in the event of pulmonary embolism (PE). Doppler diagnosis of DVT was obtained in 97% to 100% of patients. When PE was suspected, a lung scan was performed in 62% of patients managed by hospital practitioners and in 43% of patients treated by GPs. Whereas the rate of hospitalization for distal DVT diagnosed in outpatients did not exceed 14% of patients, the rate of hospitalization for proximal DVT reached 40%-48%. Eighty-eight percent of the patients with PE were managed in a hospital setting. Two-thirds of the patients with PE were given low-molecular-weight heparin for an average duration of 9.3 days and one-third of patients were treated with non-fractioned heparin for an average duration of a 11 days. Doppler diagnosis of PTD was established in 98% of patients and 98% of the patients with PTD were treated with elastic contention stockings. CONCLUSION: Based on physicians' report of their current medical practice, this study provides useful data on diagnostic and therapeutic practices in the management of VTD and PTD.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of the ATTEST study in order to evaluate general medicine management practices for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Our analysis was based on the guidelines for good practice which recommend measurement of the systolic pressure index (SPI), search for other localizations of atherothrombosis, treatment of risk factors including smoking, walking exercises, and long-term prescription of anti-platelets. METHODS: ATTEST is a cross-sectional multicentric observational epidemiologic study conducted in metropolitan France. The study has recruited 8.475 analyzable patients with symptomatic PAD alone (3811 patients) or associated with other atherothrombotic localizations (2416 patients) or other cardiovascular diseases (2248 patients). These patients were followed by 3020 physicians. The current analysis thus included 6227 patients (81.2% men, 18.8% women, mean age 67.2 years), including 78.8% who had reached the stage of intermittent claudication. Risk factors included current or past smoking (61%), hypercholesterolemia (66.3%), hypertension (63.1%) and diabetes mellitus (26%). RESULTS: Arterial duplex Doppler exams of the lower limbs were performed in 91.2% of the patients but measurement of the SPI for diagnostic purposes had been performed in only 17%. The majority (85.8%) of the patients with proven coronary artery disease or cervico-encephalic involvement had had an ECG and 69.3% had had a duplex Doppler of the supra-aortic trunks. Smoking continued in 39% of the patients and an aid to cease smoking had been prescribed for only 7% of the patients who were non-smokers for less than one year. Nearly two-thirds of the patients analyzed had received advice concerning physical activities. Finally, anti-platelets had been prescribed for 92.2% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The general practitioner plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. Although measurement of the SPI is recommended as an early diagnostic tool and for evaluation of severity, it had been performed in less than one-third of the patients. Search for another localization of atherothrombosis had been performed in more than half of the patients. The physicians generally delivered advice on physical exercise and prescribed anti-platelets. The fight against smoking was however largely insufficient. The results of this study warrant further optimization of the collaboration between general practitioners and vascular disease specialists.
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PURPOSE: Treatment of lymphedema (LE) includes complex decongestive physiotherapy (manual lymphatic drainage, bandaging, exercises, skin care, elastic stockings). Surgical therapy is rarely useful. However, lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) is the most used surgery in LE. We have assessed LVA in lower limb LE. METHODS: Thirteen patients (5 women, 8 men) with primary (n=10) or secondary LE (n=3) were included. Primary LE started at a mean âge (+/- SD) of 28.9 +/- 14.5 years. LE was located in left lower limb (n=7), right (n=4) or both (n=2). LVA was performed 7.1 +/- 4.9 years after the onset of LE by the same surgeon. Two to five lymphatic vessels were used for LVA. Assessment of LVA was based upon objective criteria (volumetry, erysipelas) and subjective criteria (global discomfort, heaviness, cutaneous tenderness, difficulties for doing significant effort or walking more than 1 km). Global assessement of LVA was collected for each patient. RESULTS: Before LVA, excess of volume (+/- SD) of LE was 1906 +/- 1277 ml or 28.5 +/- 18% in comparison with the controlateral limb. After LVA, excess of volume (+/- SD) remained stable with 1863 +/- 1468 ml or 24.4 +/- 18.9%. Volumetry was appreciated with a mean (+/- SD) follow-up of 52 +/- 3 months. Frequency of erysipelas was unchanged for the 6 patients with recurrent episodes. Only heaviness and cutaneous tenderness were significantly reduced after LVA. But global discomfort (+/- SD) decreased from 6.7 +/- 2.7 to 5 +/- 3.2 on visual analogic scale (NS). No differences were observed for significant effort or walking more than 1 km. Global assessment of LVA by the patient was very good (n=3), good (n=2), intermediate (n=5) and bad (n=3). CONCLUSION: LVA failed to improve the volume of lower limb LE and reduce the frequency of erysipelas. LVA improves few subjectives criteria but not global discomfort. Further studies are needed to evaluate LVA and to select patients to obtain best results.
Lymphedema are primary (lower limb) or secondary for the upper limb after treatment of breast cancer. Genetic research allows to explain better pathophysiology of lymphedema. Lymphoscintigraphy is the main imaging technique for lymphedema. Venous or compressive etiologies may be first excluded. Treatment of lymphedema includes decongestive physiotherapy: manual lymph drainages, bandages, elastic stockings, exercises, skin care to avoid infections. Other treatments may be associated: weight loss, drugs (procyanidolic oligomers), surgery for genital lymphedema, pneumatic compression pumps for lymphovenous insufficiency.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the maternal, fetal and neonatal safety of enoxaparin in pregnant women who require antithrombotic therapy. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of case notes of women who received enoxaparin during pregnancy, irrespective of dose, duration and reason for treatment. SETTING: Fifty-five French perinatal centres. SAMPLE: Data from 624 pregnancies in 604 women between 1988 and 1997. The incidence of previous thromboembolism was 29.8%, known thrombophilia 15.2%. METHODS: Indication, regimen of enoxaparin and outcome measures were reported for each pregnancy. Information was obtained from case records, validated by research staff and analysed by an independent scientific committee. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence, seriousness and causality of maternal, fetal and neonatal adverse events, pregnancy outcome, and incidence of venous thromboembolism. RESULTS: Enoxaparin was administered for treatment of an acute episode in 49 cases and for thromboprophylaxis in 574 cases. Serious maternal haemorrhage occurred in 11 cases during pregnancy (1.8%), one being reasonably related to enoxaparin, and in nine cases at delivery (1.4%), all unrelated to enoxaparin. Maternal thrombocytopenia was reported in 10 cases (1.6%). two being serious but unrelated to enoxaparin. Eight pregnancies ended in stillbirth (1.1%). Among the 693 live births, 17 major congenital abnormalities (2.5%) and 10 serious neonatal haemorrhages (1.4%) were reported. None of the fetal or neonatal adverse events was related to enoxaparin. Eight venous thromboembolic events (1.3%) were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of adverse events reported could be explained by the high risk profile of the study population. Overall, this retrospective study suggests enoxaparin is well tolerated during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: It is estimated that 1 leg ulcer out of 300 is a carcinoma. In the literature ulceration of skin cancer is distinguished from chronic leg ulcers although this later category remains a subject of debate. We examined the clinical features of suspected malignant leg ulcers and discuss the notion of secondary malignant transformation of leg ulcers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included patients attending the Vascular Clinic at the Saint-Joseph Hospital in Paris between 1991 and 1999 who were referred for leg ulcers and whose final diagnosis was cancerous ulceration. RESULTS: There were six patients, mean age 77 years who had squamous cell carcinomas (4 cases) and basocellular carcinomas (2 cases). We observed two distinct situations: leg carcinomas that ulcerated from onset (2 cases) and malignant transformation of a cicatrix, known as Marjolin's ulcer (4 cases). There were no cases of malignant transformation of chronic leg ulcers in this series. The clinical elements suggestive of a cancerous leg ulcer were the absence of a vascular etiology, the red, budding aspect of the ulcer with hard borders, and its development on a cicatrix. CONCLUSION: Malignant transformation of a vascular leg ulcer was not observed in our series, but has been reported in the literature although a critical analysis of reported data is only significant for squamous cell carcinoma. The frequency is probably overestimated. Our series enabled us to identify the clinical circumstances leading to an early diagnosis of carcinoma of the lower limbs. There are three essential criteria: analysis of the vascular status of the patient, the clinical characteristics of the leg ulcer, and its development on a cicatrix.
Treatment of venous and lymphatic insufficiency of the lower limbs is based on 3 components: elastic support, venotonic drugs and radical treatments (surgery or sclerotherapy) of insufficient veins. Venotonic drugs have specific indications limited to functional impairment: heavy feeling in the legs, pain and impatience in the evening. There are different categories of venolymphatic drugs. Flavonoids have various pharmacological actions, most notably an increase in venous tone, reduction of capillary permeability and increase of capillary resistance. Choice of a venotonic drug is funded on knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the molecule, critical evaluation of clinical studies, physician's personal experience and drug cost. Venotonic drugs are useful when venous insufficiency leads to functional manifestations. They are especially the treatment of heavy leg syndromes during warm seasons when elastic support is uncomfortable.
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