A low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. It has remained unclear whether such a social gradient is evident in peripheral artery disease (PAD) because both diseases show different clinical courses. We looked at the association between education and income with PAD within the population of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study (HNRS) including 4738 individuals. In both men and women, the ankle–brachial index (ABI) decreased and the prevalence of PAD (ABI < 0.9) increased with decreasing education and income. Looking only at participants without cardiovascular disease, doctor-diagnosed PAD and media calcinosis participants with low (odds ratio 2.58, 95% confidence interval 1.53–4.34) and median education (1.90, 1.27–2.85) had higher odds for suffering from PAD compared to participants with high education. Additional adjustment for classical arteriosclerosis risk factors reduced the strength of the association while the odds ratios remained elevated. Current smoking, diabetes and BMI seem to be the most relevant mediators. Income does not significantly correlate with events when adjustments for all other risk factors are made. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that PAD is more pronounced in men and women with lower socioeconomic status. Diabetes prevention and smoking prevention and cessation programs need to specifically target individuals of lower income and education. According to our findings, prevention of PAD would benefit extraordinarily.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) report diverse clinical manifestations that are not always consistent with classic intermittent claudication. We examined the degree to which atypical exertional leg symptoms, intermittent claudication, and exertional leg symptoms that begin at rest were associated with mood states such as anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anhedonia (i.e. lack of positive affect). A cohort of consecutive PAD patients (n = 628) from the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the San Diego Claudication questionnaire. The ankle–brachial index and clinical factors were assessed in all patients at baseline. Anxiety was present in 29%, depressive symptoms in 30%, and anhedonia in 28% of patients. Pain at rest was independently associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anhedonia (ORs between 2.5 and 4.0, p ≤ 0.001), while there was no relationship between intermittent claudication and mood states. Patients with atypical leg symptoms had a twofold risk of anxiety (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.5, p < 0.05). Adjusting for sex, age, ankle–brachial index, cardiovascular history, time since ankle–brachial index screening, clinical factors, and medication use, both pain at rest (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.6–7.0, p = 0.001) and atypical leg symptoms (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.9, p < 0.05) were associated with comorbid mood problems. In conclusion, PAD patients with atypical leg symptoms or pain at rest reported more impaired mood than patients without those symptoms. These patients should be monitored closely in clinical practice, as previous research in cardiovascular patients has shown that mood disorders and sub-threshold symptoms predict poor prognosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-resolution 3D contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (3D CE MRA) with parallel imaging techniques for the diagnosis of various arterial stenoses and its value for planning endovascular interventional treatment. Thirty-five patients underwent 3D CE MRA before endovascular interventional treatment. Numbers of patients were as follows: clinically documented renal artery stenosis (n = 10), renal transplant artery stenosis (n = 1), carotid artery stenosis (n = 12), iliac artery stenosis (n = 11) and femoro-popliteal artery stenosis (n = 1). A total of 39 arterial segments were treated. The depiction of various arterial stenoses was evaluated. The degree and length of the stenoses were compared and analyzed between 3D CE MRA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The accuracy of MRA in depicting lesion characteristics (ulceration, eccentricity, post-stenotic dilatation) was reviewed. The overall value of 3D CE MRA in planning interventional treatment was determined. The quality of 3D CE MRA in the demonstration of various arterial stenoses was judged excellent or good. A strong correlation was noted between 3D CE MRA and DSA regarding severity and length of stenosis. The accuracy of 3D CE MRA in depicting lesion characteristics was good. 3D CE MRA overestimated three severe iliac artery stenoses. Except in these three segments, the value of 3D CE MRA analysis was judged high. 3D CE MRA was found to be better than DSA in revealing the distal reconstitution and occluded segment in cases of iliac artery stenosis. 3D CE MRA is accurate in demonstrating the relevant anatomy necessary to plan endovascular interventional treatment for patients with arterial stenosis.

The CLaudication: Exercise Vs Endoluminal Revascularization (CLEVER) study is the first randomized, controlled, clinical, multicenter trial that is evaluating a supervised exercise program compared with revascularization procedures to treat claudication. In this report, the methods and dissemination techniques of the supervised exercise training intervention are described. A total of 217 participants are being recruited and randomized to one of three arms: (1) optimal medical care; (2) aortoiliac revascularization with stent; or (3) supervised exercise training. Of the enrolled patients, 84 will receive supervised exercise therapy. Supervised exercise will be administered according to a protocol designed by a central CLEVER exercise training committee based on validated methods previously used in single center randomized control trials. The protocol will be implemented at each site by an exercise committee member using training methods developed and standardized by the exercise training committee. The exercise training committee reviews progress and compliance with the protocol of each participant weekly. In conclusion, a multicenter approach to disseminate the supervised exercise training technique and to evaluate its efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness for patients with claudication due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is being evaluated for the first time in CLEVER. The CLEVER study will further establish the role of supervised exercise training in the treatment of claudication resulting from PAD and provide standardized methods for use of supervised exercise training in future PAD clinical trials as well as in clinical practice.

The objective of this study was to examine the association of alcohol drinking and lipid profile with infrarenal aortic dimension. The diameter of the infrarenal aorta was measured using ultrasound in 395 individuals (mean 66.6 ± 10.3 years) with atherosclerotic diseases or risk factors. The associations between heavy drinking, serum lipoprotein (a) levels, lipid profile and infrarenal aorta diameters were examined. Heavy drinking and lipoprotein (a) were positively related with infrarenal aortic dimension, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C were negatively associated with infrarenal aortic diameter (p < 0.05). In addition, there were negative associations of LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and positive associations of HDL-C and apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) with heavy drinking (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there was a positive association between infrarenal aortic diameters and heavy drinking, as well as lipoprotein (a) levels. Furthermore, the novel and unexpected inverse association between LDL-C/HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C and abdominal aortic diameter may suggest a possible role for anti-atherogenic lipid profile (characterized by a higher level of HDL-C and lower level of LDL-C) in aortic dilatation processes, which need to be clarified by further studies.

Proximal claudication remains a difficult diagnosis. The ankle to brachial index may be insensitive in the case of isolated hypogastric lesions. Penile pressure represents an alternative method for proximal arteries. Surprisingly, the accuracy of penile pressure measurement in detecting lesions on the arteries supplying pelvic circulation in patients suffering claudication has rarely been studied. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the penile brachial index < 0.60 (penile over brachial systolic pressure ratio) to non-invasively investigate arteriographic lesions on arteries supplying the hypogastric circulation in 88 male patients referred for Fontaine stage II. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to define the diagnostic performance of the penile brachial index and search for a specific cut-off point in this population. Accuracy was 69.3% (95% confidence interval: 58.6–78.7) for the detection of an arterial stenosis or occlusion on at least one side. The penile brachial index ≤ 0.45 was 74% sensitive and 68% specific to discriminate the 19 patients with bilateral arterial occlusion from the other 66 patients. In conclusion, the penile brachial index is relatively insensitive for the detection of proximal abnormal blood flow impairment except in the case of bilateral occlusion of arteries supplying the hypogastric circulation in patients with claudication. A normal penile pressure is probably not efficient enough to rule out the presence of lesions on the arteries towards the hypogastric circulation in patients with arterial claudication.

Venous stasis syndrome may complicate deep vein thrombosis (DVT; i.e. post-phlebitic syndrome), but, in most cases, venous stasis syndrome is not post-phlebitic. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors (including prior DVT) for venous stasis syndrome, and to assess venous outflow obstruction and venous valvular incompetence as possible mechanisms for venous stasis syndrome. This was a case–control study nested within a population-based inception cohort. The study population consisted of 232 Olmsted County, MN residents with a first lifetime venous thromboembolism (VTE) and 133 residents without VTE. Measurements included a questionnaire and physical examination for venous stasis syndrome; strain gauge outflow plethysmography, venous continuous wave Doppler ultrasonography and passive venous drainage and refill testing for venous outflow obstruction and venous valvular incompetence. Altogether, 161 (44%), 43 (12%), and 136 (38%) subjects respectively, had venous stasis syndrome, venous outflow obstruction and venous valvular incompetence. Independent risk factors for venous stasis syndrome included increasing patient age and body mass index (BMI), prior DVT, longer time interval since DVT, and varicose veins. Both venous outflow obstruction (p = 0.003) and venous valvular incompetence (p < 0.0001) were strongly associated with venous stasis syndrome. Increasing age and prior DVT were significantly associated with venous outflow obstruction, while prior DVT, varicose veins and venous stasis syndrome diagnosed prior to the incident DVT were significantly associated with venous valvular incompetence. The risks of venous outflow obstruction, venous valvular incompetence and venous stasis syndrome were higher with left leg DVT. In conclusion, increasing patient age and BMI, prior DVT (particularly left leg DVT), longer time interval since DVT and varicose veins are independent risk factors for venous stasis syndrome. Venous stasis syndrome related to DVT is due to venous outflow obstruction and venous valvular incompetence, while venous stasis syndrome related to older age and to varicose veins is due to venous outflow obstruction and to venous valvular incompetence, respectively.

Clinic-based, case-control studies linked sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) to markers of endothelial dysfunction. We attempted to validate this association in a large community-based sample, and evaluate the relation of SDB to arterial diameter and peripheral blood flow. This community-based, cross-sectional observational study included 327 men and 355 women, aged 42–83 years, from the Framingham Heart Study site of the Sleep Heart Health Study. The polysomnographically derived apnea-hypopnea index and the hypoxemia index (percent sleep time with oxyhemoglobin saturation below 90%) were used to quantify the severity of SDB. Brachial artery ultrasound measurements included baseline diameter, percent flow-mediated dilation, and baseline and hyperemic flow velocity and volume. The baseline brachial artery diameter was significantly associated with both the apnea-hypopnea index and the hypoxemia index. The association was diminished by adjustment for body mass index, but remained significant for the apnea-hypopnea index. Age-, sex-, race- and body mass index-adjusted mean diameters were 4.32, 4.33, 4.33, 4.56, 4.53 mm for those with apnea-hypopnea index < 1.5, 1.5–4.9, 5–14.9, 15–29.9, ≥ 30, respectively; p = 0.03. Baseline flow measures were associated with the apnea-hypopnea index but this association was non-significant after adjusting for body mass index. No significant association was observed between measures of SDB and percent flow-mediated dilation or hyperemic flow in any model. In conclusion, this study supports a moderate association of SDB and larger baseline brachial artery diameter, which may reflect SDB-induced vascular remodeling. This study does not support a link between SDB and endothelial dysfunction as measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation.

Renal artery stenosis may cause or exacerbate hypertension and renal failure. Percutaneous transluminal renal artery stent placement, increasingly the first-line therapy for ostial atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, can be complicated by in-stent restenosis weeks to months after the procedure. There is currently no consensus for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. Sirolimus-eluting stents have been shown to be effective to treat in-stent restenosis in the coronary circulation. We report a case of sustained 24-month patency after repair of recurrent renal artery in-stent restenosis with use of a sirolimus-eluting stent.

We report the case of a 60-year-old patient with acute renal failure and occluded bilateral renal arteries presenting with acute pulmonary edema and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. The patient required renal replacement therapy with hemodialysis and was subsequently successfully treated with bilateral renal artery stent placement. Marked improvement in renal function was noted within 1 week with freedom from the need for renal replacement therapy at 4 months of follow-up.

Arteriovenous fistulae in the arm are commonly used for hemodialysis in end-stage renal disease. Although physiological steal with reverse flow in the artery distal to the fistula is common, hand ischemia or infarction are rare. The ischemic steal syndrome (hand or forearm ischemia) is usually a result of arterial disease proximal or distal to the fistula and/or poor collateral supply to the hand. The diagnosis is primarily clinical; however, markedly reduced digital pressures and pulse volume recordings support the diagnosis. Management requires imaging for focal stenoses or disease in arteries proximal and distal to the fistula from the aorta to the hand. We present a case caused by subclavian artery occlusion that was initially missed due to focusing investigation only on the fistula. We describe the percutaneous treatments and surgical revisions that attempt to restore flow to the hand without compromising the fistula.

A 22-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of a pulsatile swelling in the right supraclavicular region. A CT angiogram revealed an aneurysm arising from the distal right subclavian artery. At surgery, the subclavian artery was almost entirely replaced by a well-vascularized tumor mass. The vascular tumor along with the native vessel was excised and replaced with a vascular prosthesis. Biopsy was suggestive of an epithelioid hemangioma (EH). In conclusion, an EH is a rare vascular tumor. The presence of vascular hyperplasia with plump endothelial cells protruding into the lumen is the most important discriminator in establishing the diagnosis of EH. Vascular neoplasms presenting as aneurysms should be considered, especially if other etiologies can be excluded.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a relatively common manifestation of atherosclerotic vascular disease, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although conventional risk factors contribute to the onset and progression of PAD, the role of ‘novel’ biomarkers in pathways of inflammation, thrombosis, lipoprotein metabolism, and oxidative stress in determining susceptibility to PAD is being increasingly recognized. Validation of novel risk factors for PAD may allow earlier detection, an improved understanding of disease etiology and progression, and the development of new therapies. In this review, we discuss available evidence for associations between novel circulating markers and several aspects of PAD including disease susceptibility, progression, functional limitation, and adverse outcomes.

The primary objective of this study was to examine in a post hoc secondary analysis, the interaction of race and gender as they affect graft patency, limb salvage and mortality among patients enrolled in the Project of Ex Vivo Vein Graft Engineering via Transfection III (PREVENT III). PREVENT III was a randomized controlled trial, designed to test the efficacy of edifoligide versus placebo in patients undergoing vein bypass for critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Population

PREVENT III enrolled 1404 patients, > 18 years of age with CLI (defined as arterial insufficiency with gangrene, a non-healing ischemic ulcer or rest pain) undergoing vein bypass graft surgery, across 83 North American centres.

Design and methods

The primary outcome measure for PREVENT III was time to occurrence of non-technical graft failure resulting in either graft revision or major amputation at 12 months post enrolment. Graft failure was assessed with angiographic or ultrasound surveillance and clinical follow-up at multiple intervals for up to 1 year. For this post hoc study, data from the PREVENT III trial were analysed as an observational cohort for the effect of race and gender on vascular endpoints and patient outcomes. For this analysis, race was dichotomized (‘black’ versus ‘non-black’) and race and gender were analysed in individual (dichotomized) and combined groups (black men, black women, non-black men, non-black women). Graft and limb-related endpoints consisted of primary patency (graft patency without intervention), primary assisted patency (graft patency after preventive intervention of a stenosis), secondary patency (graft patency after intervention on a thrombosed graft), major amputation (transtibial or higher) and composite outcomes including amputation-free survival and amputation/revision-free survival. Univariate analysis (using ANOVA and Fisher’s exact test) examined the association of race/gender groups with patient demographic characteristics and co-morbidities. Univariate logistic regression models examined the relationship of patient characteristics and 30-day peri-operative variables to clinical endpoints. Cox proportional-hazard models were used for 1-year outcomes for graft patency, limb salvage and patient mortality. Propensity score modelling was used to control for 16 covariates (including demographic variables, technical factors, selected co-morbidities and medications) to allow multivariable analysis of the associations and interactions between race and gender with outcomes. Propensity score adjustments nested covariates into the primary outcomes models to analyse the effects of the four combinations of race and gender.

Results

Of the 1404 patients enrolled in PREVENT III, 249 black patients (118 women and 131 men) were included. The overall peri-operative (30-day) mortality was 2.7% and no differences were observed between race and gender groups. Although black race and gender were not individually associated with primary patency at 30 days, the subgroup of black men were at increased risk of graft failure at 30 days compared to non-black men (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.72–6.06, p < 0.01) and this difference persisted even after adjustments for high-risk grafts (odds ratio [OR] = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.29–7.12, p = 0.01). At 1 year, no significant differences were observed in mortality or primary patency rates among race and gender groups; however, black patients experienced reduced secondary patency compared to non-black patients (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08–2.06, p = 0.02) and limb salvage (HR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.27–3.20, p < 0.01). Propensity score models indicated that this disparity was more pronounced among black women (secondary patency HR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.27–3.20, p < 0.01; major amputation HR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.18–4.83, p < 0.02). No significant differences were seen between race and gender subgroups in patient survival, amputation-free survival or amputation/revision-free survival.

Conclusions

No differences were observed in mortality or primary patency at 30 days or at 1 year among individual and combined race/gender groups. Black patients, especially black women, were found to have worse secondary patency and limb salvage outcomes after vein bypass surgery for CLI.