[Endovascular treatment of stenoses in cerebral, carotid and vertebral arteries].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Vanninen.
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Both retro- and adenovirus-mediated gene therapy have been suggested as a novel approach to the treatment of malignant brain tumors. However, little information is available about the gene transfer efficiency in human malignant glioma in vivo. We compared the feasibility and safety of retrovirus- and adenovirus-mediated beta-galactosidase gene transfer in human malignant glioma. Beta-galactosidase gene was transferred to 10 patients with malignant glioma via a catheter inserted into the tumor. The catheter was left in place until the tumor resection. To maximize gene transfer efficiency, gene transfer vectors (BAG retroviruses, titer, 6 x 10(5) CFU; and adenoviruses, titer from 3 x 10(8) to 3 x 10(10) PFU) were injected into the tumor via the catheter once a day for three consecutive days, followed by tumor resection 1-2 days later. Tumor was resected in such a way that the catheter was still in place inside the tumor, which permitted accurate histological analysis of the transduced tumors. X-Gal staining for beta-galactosidase activity was used to study gene transfer efficiency and distribution of the marker gene. Beta-galactosidase gene transfer was well tolerated with both vectors. Except for two patients with clear increases in serum adenovirus antibody titers, no adverse tissue responses or systemic complications were noticed in any of the patients. Gene transfer was successful in all patients. Gene transfer efficiency varied between <0.01 and 4% with retroviruses and between <0.01 and 11% with adenoviruses. However, the transgene activity was not evenly distributed in the tumors. Both glioma cells and endothelium in the tumor blood vessels were transduced with retro- and adenovirus vectors. In conclusion, the safety and feasibility of in vivo gene transfer to human malignant glioma was established with retro- and adenovirus vectors. Adenoviruses were more efficient than retroviruses in achieving in vivo gene transfer. Transduction of endothelial cells may have important consequences for the proposed treatment strategies and selection of treatment genes. The results justify clinical gene therapy trials for malignant glioma.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency and severity of subclinical cerebral complications associated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: A prospective controlled study using preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and detailed neuropsychological and neurologic examinations as potentially sensitive indicators of subclinical cerebral injury associated with CABG. SETTING: Multimodality evaluation in a tertiary care unit (Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland). PATIENTS: Thirty-eight patients undergoing elective CABG and 20 control patients undergoing other major vascular surgery, mostly operations on the abdominal aorta. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Coronary artery bypass grafting-associated cerebral complications assessed preoperatively and postoperatively by brain MRI, QEEG, detailed neurologic examination, and a neuropsychological test battery that evaluates cognitive functions in major areas known to be vulnerable to organic impairment (learning and memory, attention, flexible mental processing, and psychomotor speed). RESULTS: There were no major neurologic complications. A mild hemisyndrome developed in 1 patient who underwent CABG and in 1 control patient. Overall, there was no decline in mean cognitive performance 3 months after surgery. Electroencephalographic slowing of 0.5 Hz or more in at least 2 channels occurred in 11 patients who underwent CABG and in 1 control patient (P=.03). The postoperative brain MRI scan revealed new small ischemic lesions in 8 patients (21%) in the CABG group but in none of the control group (P=.03). These new cerebral MRI lesions did not explain deterioration in neuropsychological test performance or the QEEG slowing. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting causes more QEEG alterations and small ischemic cerebral lesions that are detectable by MRI than does other major vascular surgery. The effect is mainly subclinical, because no statistically significant deterioration in mean neuropsychological test performance was detected.
Antepartum diagnosis of placenta accreta on the scarred myometrium of the isthmus uteri after previous cesarean section was made in 2 pregnancies. Antepartum sonographic examination revealed abnormal bulging of placental tissue toward the bladder cavity and arcuate arteries within the bladder wall. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the depth and extent of placental invasion into the myometrium of the isthmus and the bladder muscular layer. Low-resistance pulsatile intervillous flow was recorded within the placenta in 1 case. Both magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography were informative in the other of these cases, in which the patient was conservatively managed during pregnancy and after delivery.
The aim of this study was to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has any effect on fetal cardiotocographic (CTG) parameters or movement incidence. Sixteen mothers were examined during the last trimester at 28-39 weeks (mean 33 weeks; SD 4) of gestation due to a suspected fetal anomaly found in antenatal ultrasonography (US). MR imaging was performed using Siemens Magnetom Vision 1.5 T equipment with a 25 mT/m peak gradient amplitude. T2-weighted images were produced with HASTE and TRUE-FISP sequences and T1-weighted images with a 2D FLASH sequence. A four-element phase-array coil was used as the receiver. Before and after MRI-examination, a computerized analysis of the fetal heart rate (FHR) was produced. Basal FHR, short-term variation (STV) and fetal movements were calculated. The mean basal FHR was 136 beats/min (SD 11.6) before, and 133 beats/min (SD 8.9) after (P = 0.158). Short-term variation was in the normal range for both CTG-tracings: mean 9.7 ms (SD 2.7) and 8.8 ms (SD 2.8) (P = 0.196). The median for fetal movements before MRI was 48/h, and after MRI 24.5/h (P = 0.98). MRI at high field strength with powerful gradients did not affect fetal heart activity or movement incidence.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to calculate the prevalence and relative risk of unruptured incidental intracranial aneurysms (IAs) among families with IA case(s) compared with the general population in one geographically defined area in East Finland and to identify the risk group that could benefit most from screening for IAs. We compared these results with our earlier study results of familial IA (FIA) cases, with two or more known IA cases in the same family. METHODS: The study groups were collected from the catchment area of the University Hospital of Kuopio in East Finland. The inclusion criteria were age 30 to 70 years and unruptured incidental IAs > or =3 mm. Patients with previous subarachnoid hemorrhage or in whom a ruptured IA was found to be the cause of death were excluded from all study groups. During routine forensic autopsies the circle of Willis was studied for IAs to estimate the number of IAs in the general population. In the families with one known IA case and in FIA families, MR angiography was used as a preliminary screening method for IAs, followed by intra-arterial angiography to verify suspected IAs. Study populations were age and sex adjusted for the statistical calculations. RESULTS: The relative risk for IAs among first-degree relatives in FIA families was 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.2 to 8.0) and among first-degree relatives in families with only one affected family member was 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.7 to 4.8) compared with the general population in East Finland. CONCLUSIONS: First-degree relatives in FIA families constitute a high-risk group for incidental IAs, and this group would benefit from screening studies for IAs. Screening for IAs in families with only one affected member or in the general population is not recommended.
Since February 1995, 59 patients with recent aneurysmal SAH have been randomised in our study program, either for surgical aneurysm clipping or for endovascular treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils, to compare the safety and long-term efficacy of these methods. Patients with expansive haematomas or those in a moribund state were excluded, as well as those with aneurysms unsuitable for treatment with both methods. We used single photon emission tomography (SPET) to compare regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in surgically and in endovascularly-treated patients. In a sub-study presented in this paper, we analysed the data of patients in Grade I-III (Hunt & Hess) with anterior circulation aneurysms (n = 21). When changes between the pre- and post-treatment rCBF were compared, the surgically treated group showed a tendency towards improved rCBF (change in different vascular territories varied from +4% to +12%) while the endovascularly-treated group showed no consistent change (changes varied from -3% to +6%). There was, however, no significant statistical difference between the changes in the groups. Our results are preliminary, but they suggest that endovascular treatment of anterior circulation aneurysms may not have any advantage over surgical treatment in respect to disturbances in the rCBF.
BACKGROUND: We set out to determine the prevalence of incidental intracranial aneurysms in first-degree relatives aged 30 years or more of people with intracranial aneurysms, and to see if polycystic kidney disease contributes to the aggregation of familial intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: 91 families with two or more affected members had previously been identified from a 14 year series of 1150 intracranial aneurysm patients treated at the University Hospital of Kuopio, Finland. Magnetic resonance angiography was used as a preliminary screening method, followed by conventional four-vessel angiography to verify suspected aneurysms. Participants were also screened for polycystic kidneys by ultrasonography. FINDINGS: Incidental aneurysms were detected in 40 individuals: 38 of 438 individuals from 85 families without polycystic kidney disease or other diagnosed heritable disorders, and two of 22 individuals from six families known to have polycystic kidney disease. The crude and age-adjusted prevalence of incidental intracranial aneurysms among screened first-degree relatives was 8.7 (SE 1.3)% (95% CI 6.2-11.7) and 9.1 (1.4)% (6.2-11.7), respectively, for the familial group and the crude prevalence for the polycystic kidney group was 9.1 (6.1)% (1.1-29.2). INTERPRETATION: Our results demonstrate a high prevalence of incidental intracranial aneurysms among first-degree relatives aged 30 years or older of patients with the condition and indicate that the risk of having an aneurysm is about four times higher for a close relative than for someone from the general population. Also, polycystic kidney disease families are a small fraction of the familial intracranial aneurysm families.
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A case report and review of the literature of 16 dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) involving the superior sagittal sinus region are presented. In our case, magnetic resonance angiography detected the DAVF with multiple arterial feeding vessels from both external carotid arteries. The patient was successfully treated endovascularly, with complete occlusion of arterial feeders and a total resolution of symptoms.
Previous studies have suggested a reduced glucose uptake by the athlete's heart at rest. To examine whether there is a compensatory increase in the myocardial fatty acid utilization, we studied nine male endurance-trained athletes (age 26 +/- 2 yr, VO2max 60 +/- 1 ml.kg-1.min-1, mean +/- SEM) and eight sedentary subjects (age 26 +/- 1 yr, VO2max 38 +/- 2 ml.kg-1.min-1) by single photon emission tomography using 123I-heptadecanoic acid (HDA) and mathematical modeling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography were performed for the measurements of cardiac dimensions and left ventricular (LV) mass. No significant differences were found in the myocardial HDA beta-oxidation index (5.2 +/- 2.0 vs 7.4 +/- 1.6 mumol.min-1.100 g-1, P = NS) between endurance-trained and sedentary subjects. Fractional amounts of HDA beta-oxidation, backdiffusion, and esterification were also similar. In MRI study, LV mass was greater in the trained subjects (213 +/- 9 vs 179 +/- 10 g, P < 0.01) and in particular, LV long-axis diameter measured from the mitral valve level to the apex was increased (102 +/- 2 vs 88 +/- 2 mm, P < 0.001, trained vs sedentary subjects). VO2max correlated with LV long-axis diameter (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). In contrast to our hypothesis, myocardial HDA utilization was not enhanced in endurance-trained athletes at rest. Increases in LV mass and especially in LV long-axis diameter were observed in the athletes, indicating LV longitudinal remodeling.
Individual responses of cerebral blood flow to acetazolamide are highly variable. We hypothesized that this may be due to interactions with cardiovascular diseases and medication. Therefore, we measured the haemodynamic effects of acetazolamide in patients with various cardiovascular disorders and evaluated whether these had any correlation with calculated cerebral perfusion reserve. Ten male patients aged 58 +/- 9 years (mean +/- S.D.) were studied with first-pass radionuclide ventriculography and echocardiography before and 20 min after the administration of 1 g acetazolamide. Systolic blood pressure fell from 133 +/- 21 to 128 +/- 19 mmHg (P < 0.05) and the cardiac output to total blood volume ratio increased from 0.85 +/- 0.18 to 0.92 +/- 0.11 (P = 0.05), indicating a 14% reduction in peripheral vascular resistance. In a further study, 15 patients aged 60 +/- 7 years (22 studies) were studied simultaneously with a nuclear stethoscope and 99Tc(m)-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime single photon emission tomography before and after acetazolamide administration. The cardiac output ratio increased from 0.81 +/- 0.17 to 0.89 +/- 0.17 (P < 0.05) and showed a significant inverse correlation with calculated cerebral perfusion reserve. In conclusion, acetazolamide increases the cardiac output ratio and reduces systolic blood pressure, indicating reduced peripheral vascular resistance in patients with various cardiovascular diseases and medication. The increase in the cardiac output ratio is inversely related with calculated cerebral perfusion reserve. This helps to explain the high individual variability in calculated cerebral perfusion reserve.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Blood flow can be evaluated non-invasively using magnetic resonance phase-contrast flow quantification. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the feasibility of this method and to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: Volumetric flow rates and peak systolic velocities of the internal and common carotid and the vertebral arteries were measured by magnetic resonance flow quantification. Sixteen patients undergoing 18 endarterectomies had complete flow data recorded preoperatively and 3 days after surgery. RESULTS: The inverse correlation between the angiographic stenosis degree and the preoperative flow rate in the corresponding internal carotid artery was highly significant (r = -.69, P < .001). After endarterectomy, the mean flow in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery improved from 143 to 233 mL/min (P < .001). The mean peak systolic velocity increased from 23 to 37 cm/s (P < .001). No significant changes were seen in the contralateral carotid or the vertebral arteries. The mean total blood flow improved by 81 mL/min (P = .08). In the severely stenosed bifurcations (70% to 99%, n = 11), the flow rate improved by 106 mL/min and in the moderately (30% to 69%, n = 4) or mildly (< 30%, n = 3) stenosed bifurcations by 63 mL/min. If the contralateral carotid artery was occluded or severely stenosed, the improvement was 164 mL/min. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance flow quantification provides a useful tool for the follow-up of the hemodynamic effects of carotid endarterectomy. Our results indicate that surgery is followed by a significant increase of blood flow in the ipsilateral carotid artery and that there appear to be differences in flow increase between subgroups of patients with different degrees of stenosis.
PURPOSE: To determine the most accurate, safe, and cost-effective imaging protocol for selecting patients for carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: The actual costs of carotid angiography, ultrasound, and MR angiography were calculated. The diagnostic accuracy with different confidence levels was assessed for carotid ultrasound and MR angiography in 45 patients. The cost-effectiveness and theoretical impact on patient outcome of hypothetical screening models were compared. RESULTS: Ultrasound before angiography is more effective and considerably cheaper than performing angiography in all patients presenting with transient ischemic attacks ($25 216 versus $48 708 imaging costs per one prevented stroke). When the more costly MR angiography was used to select patients for angiography the slightly higher diagnostic accuracy did not result in a greater number of prevented strokes. As the only preoperative scrutiny, the combination of ultrasound and MR angiography would have resulted in a greater number of prevented strokes than invasive angiography (27.9 versus 23.3) but at the expense of unnecessary surgery (6.6% of all surgeries). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound followed by confirmatory angiography is a cost-effective way to image patients suspected of carotid artery stenosis. MR angiography may become cost effective and lead to a better final patient outcome only when it can reliably replace invasive angiography as the preoperative examination.
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PURPOSE: To evaluate different carotid stenosis estimation methods with digital subtraction angiography. METHODS: We assessed the intraobserver reproducibilty and interobserver variability of visual interpretation and the measurement methods used by the European Carotid Surgery Trial and the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial. Angiographic stenosis measurements according to both criteria were performed twice by a radiologist, a neurologist, and a vascular surgeon. Eighty bifurcations of consecutive symptomatic patients underwent 480 pairs of measurements. In addition, four radiologists estimated the stenoses visually. RESULTS: Intraobserver consistency was slightly better by the European (kappa, 0.86 to 0.94) than by the North American (kappa, 0.68 to 0.91) trial criteria or by visual interpretation (kappa, 0.79 to 0.81). No significant interobserver variability was found, except in the subgroup of mild stenoses by the North American Trial criteria. By kappa statistic, the interobserver agreement was excellent by the European trial method (kappa, 0.72 to 0.86), good by the North American trial method (kappa, 0.59 to 0.77), and good to excellent by visual evaluation (kappa, 0.68 to 0.88). The visual estimation agreed more closely with the European (kappa, 0.73 to 0.92) than with the North American trial (kappa, 0.55 to 0.74) criteria measurements. CONCLUSIONS: All three methods have good reproducibility in digital subtraction angiography. Interobserver differences become more important in the estimation of mild stenosis.