Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Paul Vaitkus.
Numerous methods have been described for retrieving or addressing stents that have embolized in the coronary arteries. Almost all of these prior reports address the "freshly" embolized stent with retrieval or deployment occurring during the same index procedure during which the embolization occurred. We describe a case of a thrombosed, chronically embolized coronary stent.
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Restenosis limits the success of percutaneous transluminal coronary interventions. Coronary artery stenting decreases restenosis, improves outcomes, and is currently the most commonly used percutaneous coronary intervention in the United States. However, in-stent restenosis continues to occur at an unacceptable rate. In-stent restenosis is a neointimal hyperplastic response resulting primarily from vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Treatment with anti-proliferative agents presents a logical approach to eradicating restenosis, however, these drugs are highly toxic. Coating stents with anti-proliferative agents allows local delivery of high doses and avoids systemic side effects. In 2001, the results of two clinical trials, RAVEL and ELUTES, using sirolimus- and paclitaxil-coated stents demonstrated nearly complete elimination of in-stent restenosis. These dramatic results represent a tremendous advance in the treatment of coronary heart disease.
Evidence of racial differences in aldosterone concentrations and K+ disposition suggests that response to aldosterone antagonism might vary by race. The authors sought to determine whether K+ response to spironolactone differs between African Americans and Caucasians with heart failure. Heart failure patients of African-American (n = 34) or Caucasian (n = 17) race were started on spironolactone 12.5 mg/d, with up-titration as tolerated. Laboratory values and drug therapy were similar between racial groups at baseline. Spironolactone was titrated to a median dose of 25 mg/d in both groups. Neither concomitant medications nor serum creatinine changed significantly in either group during spironolactone dose titration. Median serum K+ concentrations increased by 0.5 mEq/L (range, -0.7 to 1.6 mEq/L) in Caucasians, but only 0.1 mEq/L (range, -0.8 to 0.9 mEq/L) in African Americans; p < 0.01. These data suggest that African Americans with heart failure may be less responsive to the renal effects of spironolactone.