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Biomedical subjects

L Caplan

Publications and source records attributed to L Caplan.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Disease of the carotid system.

Tremendous progress has been made in the investigation of occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery. With the advent of technologic advances such as CT scanning and more highly skilled personnel for the safe performance of cerebral angiography, diagnostic capabilities have been heightened. Carotid endarterectomy and surgical shunts have expanded the surgical armamentarium. Medical treatments have also proliferated.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

Chronic vascular dementia.

Vascular disease is responsible for only a minority of cases of chronic dementia. Vascular dementia can be an end stage of a variety of mechansisms. Correct identification of the cause of the vascular disease is the key to successful treatment.

Adult↗

Vasculitis with urticaria, hypocomplementemia, and multiple system involvement.

A patient with cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis had chronic urticaria associated with multiple system involvement including arthralgias, glomerulonephritis, myositis, pseudotumor cerebri, and adenopathy. Persistent hypocomplementemia is noted with classic pathway activation. The syndrome recognized in this patient and those few individuals reported previously seems to constitute a distinct category of collagen-vascular disease.

Adult↗

Thrombus in vertebrobasilar dolichoectatic artery treated with intravenous urokinase.

BACKGROUND: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia is often found in patients with posterior circulation ischemia. Brain ischemia is caused by abnormal flow in the dilated artery and obstruction of paramedian arteries or intraluminal thrombus with artery-to-artery embolism. We report a patient with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and luminal thrombus treated with intravenous urokinase who did well but died 2 months later of subarachnoid hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 60-year-old man developed right-hand clumsiness, dysarthria and ataxia. Computed tomography showed vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and thrombus in the basilar artery. Symptoms quickly resolved on heparin but recurred on warfarin and again resolved on heparin. Two weeks later, while on warfarin and aspirin 325 mg, he developed hand numbness, oscillopsia and ataxia. Symptoms again resolved on heparin. Angiography showed severe dolichoectasia of the distal right vertebral artery and basilar artery. A large mural thrombus was detected in the ventral part of the distal basilar artery narrowing the lumen by 50%. He was treated with intravenous urokinase 4,400 units/kg as a bolus followed by 4,400 units/kg/h for 12 h. Repeat angiography showed almost complete recanalization and improved filling of basilar artery branches. He was maintained on warfarin and aspirin 81 mg and had no further ischemic episodes. He died 2 months later of rupture of the basilar artery and subarachnoid hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Some patients with thrombosis of vertebrobasilar dolichoectactic arteries continue to have ischemic symptoms despite adequate anticoagulation. Intravenous thrombolysis may be effective in reducing the risk of stroke, but the risk/benefit ratio needs to be assessed in each patient.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗