Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Calcium antagonists block calcium entry into cells, resulting in relaxation of smooth muscle and limitation of the cytotoxic effects of ischaemia in various organ systems. They are most frequently used for clinical conditions requiring vasodilatation, i.e. hypertension and Raynaud's phenomenon, and this also suggests that the most common adverse effect of these drugs for noncardiovascular indications is an unwanted decline in blood pressure. Other uses include treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias and angina. There is some evidence that these drugs retard the development of atherosclerosis. Calcium channel blockers also improve renal reperfusion and may reduce renal insufficiency due to various nephrotoxins, and are particularly useful in renal transplantation for protection against cyclosporin toxicity and post-transplant acute tubular necrosis. These drugs are also useful in pregnancy-induced hypertension and unwanted uterine contraction. Affective disorders and malignancies may be other conditions which benefit from calcium antagonist therapy. Calcium antagonists, in particular nimodipine which is most selective for the cerebral vasculature, have been approved for treating vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage. They are probably also effective for treatment of migraine. Calcium channel blockers may be effective for treating acute cerebral infarction, but results of clinical trials to date have been equivocal, largely because it has been difficult to recruit patients within the short interval after the onset of stroke when these drugs would be most effective, and because of the unwanted hypotensive effect of high doses.
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PMID:New uses for calcium channel blockers. Therapeutic implications. 751 Jun 13

Raynaud's syndrome manifests as a progressive color change of the fingers in response to cold, vibration or stress; the digits first turn white, then blue and finally red. The condition is called Raynaud's disease when it is a benign, primary condition. When it is secondary to another disease, such as lupus, scleroderma or atherosclerosis, it is termed Raynaud's phenomenon. Laboratory tests, i.e., complete blood count, chemistry screen, antinuclear antibody, lupus erythematous test and rheumatoid factor, should be used to seek underlying diseases before the symptoms are manifest. Other tests should be selected as indicated by the history and physical. There are many adjustments in lifestyle and working conditions that the patient can use to minimize the symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome. The primary care provider has an important role in teaching patients to protect their hands from the effects of cold, stress, nicotine and vibration. Adaptive devices and protective clothing minimize the symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome.
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PMID:The diagnostic puzzle and management challenge of Raynaud's syndrome. 845 39

A 25-year-old woman with progressive Raynaud's phenomenon and digital necrosis is presented. Systemic sclerosis and other connective tissue disorders as well as atherosclerosis and arterial emboli were excluded with appropriate laboratory examinations. Arteriography revealed multiple palmar and digital occlusions with corkscrew-shaped vessels. Based on these characteristic arteriographic and clinical findings, the diagnosis of thromboangiitis obliterans was finally retained. With intravenous perfusion of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost (2 ng/kg/min, 6 h daily during 21 days), a complete healing of Raynaud's phenomenon and of the digital necrosis was observed. There was no recurrence during the 1-year follow-up. This observation demonstrates that thromboangiitis obliterans is a potential reversible cause of severe Raynaud's phenomenon in young women even in the absence of lower limb involvement. Early recognition is important to avoid irreversible complications such as loss of digits.
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PMID:Thromboangiitis obliterans: a rare cause of a reversible Raynaud's phenomenon. 1089 79

Difficulties to establish general characteristics of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, especially frequency, rates and predisposing factors of the evolution of primary to secondary cases probably originate from substantial variation of evaluated cohorts. We conducted a prospective study using standardised diagnostic procedures in order to look for the specificity of patients referred to the vascular centre; moreover, we assayed anticardiolipin antibodies in these patients using double ELISA and compared its frequency to sex and age matched a control group of 50 healthy individuals. 124 patients (20 men), mean age at onset 35.5 yr, range 9-69 yr, had confirmed diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon. Ninety nine patients were found to have secondary phenomenon, 72% of them had trophic changes of fingers and/or toes. Anticardiolipin antibodies assay was positive in seven patients and four healthy donors. Vascular diseases constituted about 20%, and connective tissue diseases 50% of secondary cases, but SLE (17 cases) not a scleroderma (11 cases) was the most frequent clinical entity in the latter group. There were only two patients with Buerger's disease and one with atherosclerosis as an underlying disease for vasospastic disorder. We concluded in the vascular medicine centre that there were a lot of patients with ischemic necrosis or other type of trophic changes, and very little primary, benign Raynaud's disease cases; surprisingly, peripheral arterial occlusive disease was very seldom responsible for vasospastic episodes. Primary or secondary antiphospholipid syndrome is not associated with Raynaud's phenomenon.
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PMID:Clinical spectrum of Raynaud's phenomenon in patients referred to vascular clinic. 1099

The aim of the paper was to estimate the correctness of thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) diagnosis in ambulatory patients. 99 patients with initial diagnosis of TAO selected from 3137 outpatients, have been examined in consulting unit for vascular diseases, from 1996 to 1998. Burger's disease has been diagnosed in 26 patients in accordance with Shionoya's criteria. Applying the point scoring system suggested by Papa et al., certain diagnosis could be made in 21 patients and probable on in 3 patients. Of the remaining patients, it is interesting to note that manual examination revealed absence of pulsation at femoral and popliteal arteries in 60% of patients and 42% of patients demonstrated atherosclerosis risk factors. On the other hand superficial thrombophlebitis and Raynaud's phenomenon have been rarely diagnosed in 5 and 18% respectively.
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PMID:[Verification of the diagnosis of Buerger's disease in outpatients]. 1164 91

In a 53-year-old woman, admitted to our Department with leg pain, peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) was diagnosed. The absence of cardiovascular risk factors in this middle-aged woman, the unexplained burning pain during both effort and rest of the lower extremities mimicking severe ischemia, decreased sweating and cold induced Raynaud's phenomenon raised the suspicion of an underlying predisposing disease. The coexistence of painful acroparesthesias, angiokeratomas, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), corneal opacities and lenticular lesions suggested the diagnosis of Fabry's disease, which was confirmed by low serum levels of a-galactosidase-A activity. This case, presented with intermittent claudication due to generalized atherosclerosis, is quite unusual, since Fabry's disease rarely produces symptoms in female carriers.
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PMID:Intermittent claudication unmasking underlying Fabry's disease. 1211 Jul 85

Sarpogrelate is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype 2A (5-HT2A) antagonist. It is metabolised to racemic M-1 and both enantiomers of M-1 are also antagonists of 5-HT2A receptors. Sarpogrelate inhibits responses to 5-HT mediated by 5-HT2A receptors such as platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction and vascular smooth muscle proliferation. There is no information available on the pharmacokinetics of sarpogrelate. Sarpogrelate is efficacious in animal models of thrombosis, coronary artery spasm, atherosclerosis, restenosis, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, diabetes and kidney disease. Small clinical trials indicate that sarpogrelate may be beneficial in the treatment of coronary artery disease, angina, restenosis, heart valve prostheses surgery, diabetes mellitus, Raynaud's phenomenon, systemic sclerosis and Buerger's disease. Larger, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of sarpogrelate in intermittent claudication, coronary artery disease, restenosis and diabetes should be considered.
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PMID:Sarpogrelate: cardiovascular and renal clinical potential. 1521 24

Prinzmetal's angina, often referred to as "variant" angina, is a temporary increase in coronary vascular tone (vasospasm) causing a marked, but transient reduction in luminal diameter. This coronary vasospastic state is usually focal at a single site and can occur in either a normal or diseased vessel. Patients are predominantly younger women who may not have the classical cardiovascular risk factors (except for cigarette use). PVA has been associated with vasospastic disorders such as Raynaud's phenomenon and migraine headaches. Arrhythmias are common and may be life threatening especially when the effects of vasospasm are seen in those ECG leads that reflect the potential variations of the epicardial surface of the left ventricle. Endothelial dysfunction has been considered as primarily responsible for PVA. The diagnosis is made by observing transient ST-segment elevation during the attack of angina. Since PVA is not a "demand"- induced symptom, but rather a supply (vasospastic) abnormality, exercise treadmill stress testing is of no value in the diagnosis of PVA. The most sensitive and specific test for PVA is the administration of ergonovine intravenously. Fifty micrograms at 5-minute intervals is given until a positive result or a maximum dose of 400 microg has been administered. When positive, the symptoms and associated ST-segment elevation should be present. Nitroglycerin rapidly reverses the effects of ergonovine if refractory spasm occurs. Medical therapy classically employs vasodilator drugs, which include nitrates and calcium channel blockers. The prognosis is good when there is no significant coronary artery stenosis. Treatment of associated coronary atherosclerosis in elderly patients with PVA is advised. When PVA is associated with coronary atherosclerosis, the prognosis is determined by the severity of the underlying disease. beta-Blockers and large doses of aspirin are contraindicated in PVA.
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PMID:Prinzmetal's angina. 1529 89

A 47-year-old woman presented with facial spasm, swollen fingers and Raynaud's phenomenon due to cerebrovascular disorder and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Although she was positive for both antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies against proteinase-3 (PR3-ANCA) and anti-U1 RNP antibodies, she did not meet the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Physical and histopathological examinations revealed severe systemic atherosclerosis without any of the traditional risk factors. Elevated levels of malondialdehyde-modified LDL and antioxidized LDL autoantibodies, which are considered to be key factors in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, were also detected in the serum of this patient. In this case, systemic atherosclerosis might have been linked to these autoimmune reactions.
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PMID:Mixed connective tissue disease associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies against proteinase-3 and systemic atherosclerosis: a case report. 1545 17

Considerable experimental and clinical data indicate that sex has an important influence on cardiovascular physiology and pathology. This report integrates selected literature with new data from the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) on vascular findings in women with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and how these findings differ from those in men. A number of common vascular disease-related conditions are either unique to (e.g., hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, peripartum dissection, polycystic ovarian syndrome, etc.) or more frequent (e.g., migraine, coronary spasm, lupus, vasculitis, Raynaud's phenomenon, etc.) in women than men. Post-menopausal women more frequently have many traditional vascular disease risk conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, obesity, inactivity, and so on), and these conditions cluster more frequently in them than men. Considerable evidence supports the notion that, with these requisite conditions, women develop a more severe or somewhat different form of vascular disease than men. Structurally, women's coronary vessels are smaller in size and appear to contain more diffuse atherosclerosis, their aortas are stiffer (fibrosis, remodeling, and so on), and their microvessels appear to be more frequently dysfunctional compared with men. Functionally, women's vessels frequently show impaired vasodilator responses. Limitations of existing data and higher risks in women with acute myocardial infarction, need for revascularization, or heart failure create uncertainty about management. A better understanding of these findings should provide direction for new algorithms to improve management of the vasculopathy underlying IHD in women.
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PMID:Some thoughts on the vasculopathy of women with ischemic heart disease. 1645 68


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