heparitin-sulfate and Carotid-Stenosis

To examine the responses to early IV administration of an anticoagulant or placebo started within 24 hours of stroke among persons with an ipsilateral occlusion or severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) identified by carotid duplex imaging.. Patients with ischemic stroke of the cerebral hemisphere secondary to an ipsilateral occlusion or severe stenosis of the ICA generally have a poor prognosis. Early, accurate identification of these patients might permit improved treatment.. Exploratory analysis of outcomes at 7 days and 3 months was performed among patients enrolled in the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) who had an ischemic stroke in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to an occlusion or a stenosis >50% of the ICA identified by carotid duplex imaging.. Regardless of treatment, patients with duplex evidence of an occlusion of the ICA had more severe strokes and poorer outcomes at 7 days and 3 months than patients who had a stenosis. Favorable outcomes at 7 days were noted in 64 of 119 patients given danaparoid (53.8%) and 41 of 108 patients treated with placebo (38.0%; p = 0.023). By 3 months, favorable outcomes were noted in 82 patients given danaparoid (68.3%) and 58 patients administered placebo (53.2%; p = 0.021).. Early identification by duplex imaging of an occlusion or severe stenosis of the ICA ipsilateral to a hemispheric ischemic stroke might improve selection of patients who could be treated with emergent anticoagulation. Further testing of this approach is needed.

Topics: Anticoagulants; Brain Ischemia; Carotid Artery, Internal; Carotid Stenosis; Chondroitin Sulfates; Dermatan Sulfate; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Functional Laterality; Glasgow Coma Scale; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Male; Placebos; Time Factors; Trauma Severity Indices; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex

Heparan sulfate in the extracellular matrix of the artery wall has been proposed to possess anti-atherogenic properties by interfering with lipoprotein retention, suppression of inflammation, and inhibition of smooth muscle cell growth. Previously, the amount of heparan sulfate in atherosclerotic lesions from humans and animals has been shown to be reduced but the identity or identities of the heparan sulfate molecules being down regulated in this disease are not known. In this study, atherosclerotic lesions were retrieved from 44 patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic carotid stenosis. Normal iliac arteries from organ donors were used as controls. Analysis of the specimens by gene microarray showed a selective reduction in perlecan gene expression, whereas, expression of the other heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the artery wall, agrin and collagen XVIII, remained unchanged. Expression of the large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, versican, also remained unchanged. Real-time PCR confirmed the decrease in perlecan gene expression and the unchanged expression of versican. The findings were supported by immunohistochemical analysis demonstrating a reduced accumulation of both perlecan core protein and heparan sulfate in carotid lesions. The study demonstrates a reduction of perlecan mRNA-expression and protein deposition in human atherosclerosis, which in part explains the low levels of heparan sulfate in this disease.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carotid Artery Diseases; Carotid Stenosis; Gene Expression Regulation; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA

Pathogenesis, frequency, and management of heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia are well-known. They may be related with both unfractioned heparin and low-molecular weight heparin. Suspected heparin must be discontinued as soon as the diagnosis is established. Orgaran (danaparoid sodium) may be used for management of patients with heparin-associated thrombocytopaenia but can itself be associated with a thrombocytopaenia. Our case report allows us to catch in mind such a crossed complication.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Anticoagulants; Captopril; Carotid Stenosis; Chondroitin Sulfates; Dermatan Sulfate; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetic Angiopathies; Drug Combinations; Female; Heparin; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Hypertension; Stroke; Thrombocytopenia