Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0034065 (pulmonary embolism)
 14,979 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cardiovascular diseases account for approximately 50% of deaths in patients on chronic haemodialysis. Therefore we prospectively studied 54 consecutive patients on dialysis for the presence or absence of ventricular late potentials (LP). LP, i.e. low-amplitude potentials in the terminal part of the QRS complex, have been shown to be highly indicative of life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death. The results were correlated with echocardiographic studies and the clinical outcome during a follow-up period of 18 months. Fifty patients were suitable for evaluation (29 males, 21 females; mean age 55 years; mean time on dialysis 32 months; coronary artery disease present in 5) Our analysis revealed LP in seven of 50 patients only. Left ventricular hypertrophy, i.e. mean wall diameter > 12 mm, was present in 78%, a compromised left ventricular function, i.e. shortening fraction < 28%, was found in 28% of the patients. With respect to echocardiographic parameters, patients with and without LP were similar. During follow-up, sudden cardiac death was observed in three of 11 patients deceased. LP were detectable in one of the three only. From the remaining six patients with LP, four are still alive, and two patients died due to atherosclerosis and pulmonary embolism. Our data underline the crucial role of sudden cardiac death in dialysis patients. Ventricular late potentials, however, are of no prognostic relevance with respect to identification of dialysis patients at risk of sudden death.
Nephrol Dial Transplant 1992
PMID:Ventricular late potentials in haemodialysis patients and the risk of sudden death. 133 75

Although renal failure has classically been associated with a bleeding tendency, thrombotic events are common among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A variety of thrombosis-favoring hematologic alterations have been demonstrated in these patients. In addition, "nontraditional" risk factors for thrombosis, such as hyperhomocysteinemia, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and malnutrition, are present in a significant proportion of chronic dialysis patients. Hemodialysis (HD) vascular access thrombosis, ischemic heart disease, and renal allograft thrombosis are well-recognized complications in these patients. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are viewed as rare in chronic dialysis patients, but recent studies suggest that this perception should be reconsidered. Several ESRD treatment factors such as recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) administration, dialyzer bioincompatibility, and calcineurin inhibitor administration may have prothrombotic effects. In this article we review the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of thrombosis in ESRD and evaluate the evidence that chronic renal failure or its management predisposes to thrombotic events.
Semin Dial
PMID:Thrombosis in end-stage renal disease. 1471 19

Percutaneous catheter-based thrombolysis is commonly used in association with angioplasty to treat thrombosed hemodialysis arteriovenous grafts. Although major complications of these percutaneous procedures are relatively uncommon, they can result in several potentially serious complications, including pulmonary embolism, cerebral embolism, arterial embolism, bleeding with perigraft hematoma or hemorrhage, and vein rupture. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical significance, and management of these complications.
Semin Dial
PMID:Complications of percutaneous treatment of thrombosed hemodialysis access grafts. 1275 88

We retrospectively reviewed all subcutaneous single- and double-lumen port catheters (PCs) inserted by interventional nephrologists at our institution to determine the success rate, immediate and late complications, and functional life. From January 2000 to August 2002, 187 PCs were placed in 187 patients (42% males, 51% Caucasians, mean age 50 +/- 14 years). There were no immediate complications related to the procedure such as hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, or pneumothorax. There were a total of 35,078 catheter-days of follow-up. Sixteen catheters were removed during the observation period: three because of infection, seven after completion of chemotherapy, and six for other reasons. The remaining PCs are either functioning or the patients have died. The initial success rate was 100%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a 30-day survival of 97% and a 1-year survival of 92%. Interventional nephrologists, who have adequate training in central venous tunneled cuffed catheter placements, can successfully place PCs, with excellent success and minimal complications.
Semin Dial
PMID:Port catheter placement by nephrologists in an interventional nephrology training program. 1471 14

Atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, and access malfunction are common clinical problems in dialysis patients that prompt consideration of warfarin therapy. Atrial fibrillation appears to be more common in people with low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or on dialysis than in the general population, but the risk of stroke in this population is not known. No randomized trials have addressed the safety and efficacy of warfarin in these patients. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are also more common in this population and, again, no randomized trials have addressed the safety and efficacy of warfarin in this group. Pending such information, we suggest an approach that generalizes from large randomized controlled trials in the general population, modifying the assessment of risks and benefits for individual patients using the CHADS(2) and HEMORR(2)HAGES scores. A single randomized trial reported a clinically important benefit in prevention of catheter malfunction from warfarin and low-molecular weight heparin started within 12 hours of catheter insertion, in the prevention of catheter thrombosis, in people treated with ticlopidine. Trials of low-intensity anticoagulation for people with grafts and of fixed 1 mg daily warfarin dosing in people with catheters showed no benefit. Warfarin substantially increases the risk of bleeding in patients on dialysis. It is possible that it may contribute also to accelerated vascular calcification. Large randomized studies are needed to assess the risk-benefit ratio of warfarin in people with low GFR or on dialysis for a range of indications.
Semin Dial
PMID:Use of warfarin in people with low glomerular filtration rate or on dialysis. 1974 50

Vascular access thrombosis frequently complicates maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy. It is costly and time consuming to patients and practitioners. Alternatives to surgical thrombectomy have been developed using percutaneous thrombolysis (PT) with pharmacologic lysis, mechanical destruction of thrombus, or a combination of the two. These techniques have been used to successfully restore blood flow through thrombosed HD arteriovenous grafts (AVG), but there is a risk of dislodging thrombi into the venous circulation resulting in pulmonary embolism (PE); it is usually clinically insignificant. We examined our practice and reviewed three cases of dialysis access thrombosis treated with PT complicated by symptomatic PE. Two important questions arose: what is the risk of symptomatic PE after PT, and do patients benefit from systemic anticoagulation?
Semin Dial
PMID:Pulmonary embolism following thrombolysis of dialysis access: is anticoagulation really necessary? 2103 78

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the upper extremities is a rare but important clinical illness, which leads to severe complications such as pulmonary embolism. Unlike DVT in the lower extremities, which is mainly induced by a hypercoagulable state, DVT in the upper extremities is usually caused by mechanical obstruction or anatomical stenosis in the venous system. We herein report a case in which DVT developed in the left upper limb during treatment of nephrotic syndrome. This is the first case report of upper-extremity DVT in association with nephrotic syndrome in the literature. Our patient was a 56-year-old male with nephrotic syndrome due to idiopathic membranous nephropathy who was treated with 40 mg/day of prednisolone. During corticosteroid therapy, he developed a swelling of the left upper limb. Computed tomography revealed thrombi in the left internal jugular vein and the left subclavian vein without anatomical abnormalities in his venous system. Thus, he was diagnosed with DVT of the upper extremities. After the initiation of warfarin treatment and subsequent regression of nephrotic syndrome, the swelling disappeared and the thrombi significantly diminished. DVT should be considered when upper-extremity edema is observed in patients with nephrotic syndrome.
Case Rep Nephrol Dial
PMID:Nephrotic syndrome complicated with deep venous thrombosis in the upper extremities. 2584 67