ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential value of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging in the diagnosis of aortic intramural hematoma (AIH).MethodsFrom September 2002 to May 2005,a consecutive series of 15 patients with suspected aortic dissection (AD) underwent both IVUS imaging and spiral computed tomography (CT).Six patients diagnosed as acute type B AIH by CT or IVUS composed the present study group.ResultsThe study group consisted of five males and one female with mean age of 66 years old.All of them had chest or back pain.In one patient,CT omitted a localized AIH and an associated penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU),which were detected by IVUS.In another patient,CT mistaken a partly thrombosed false lumen as an AIH,whereas IVUS detected a subtle intimal tear and slow moving blood in the false lumen.In the four rest patients,both CT and IVUS made the diagnosis of AIH,however,IVUS detected three PAUs in three of them,only one of them was also detected by CT,and two of them escaped initial CT and were confirmed by follow up CT or magnetic resonance imaging.ConclusionsIVUS imaging is a safe examination and has high accuracy in the diagnosis of AIH,particularly for diagnosing localized AIH,distinguishing AIH with thrombosed classic AD and detecting accompanied small PAUs.

BACKGROUNDEarly local platelet activation after coronary intervention identifies patients at increased risk of acute stent thrombosis (AST). However, early changes in platelet activation in coronary circulation following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation have never been reported.

METHODSIn a prospective study of 26 consecutive elective stable angina patients, platelet activation was analyzed by measuring soluble glycoprotein V (sGPV) and P-selectin (CD62P) before and after implantation of either DES or bare metal stent (BMS). All patients were pretreated with clopidogrel (300 mg loading dose) and aspirin (75 mg orally) the day before the procedure. Blood samples were drawn from the coronary ostium and 10 - 20 mm distal to the lesion site.

RESULTSConsistent with the lower baseline clinical risk, the levels of CD62P and sGPV were within normal reference range, both in the coronary ostium and distal to the lesion before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure. The levels of CD62P and sGPV did not change significantly (CD62P: (31.1 +/- 9.86) ng/ml vs (29.5 +/- 9.02) ng/ml, P = 0.319 and sGPV: (52.4 +/- 13.5) ng/ml vs (51.8 +/- 11.7) ng/ml, P = 0.674, respectively) after stent implantation when compared with baseline. Changes in these platelet activation markers did not differ between stent types.

CONCLUSIONSIntracoronary local platelet activation does not occur in stable angina patients before and immediately following DES implantation when dual anti-platelet is administered.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; surgery ; Biomarkers ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Platelet Activation ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Prospective Studies