Patient Characteristics and Preferences Regarding Anticoagulant Treatment in Venous Thromboembolic Disease

Background: Anticoagulants are the recommended treatment for venous thromboembolic disease (VTE). The mode of anticoagulant administration may influence compliance, and therefore the effectiveness of the treatment. Unlike in atrial fibrillation or cancer-associated thrombosis, there is only limited data on patient preferences regarding the choice of anticoagulation in VTE. This study aims to evaluate patient preferences regarding anticoagulants in terms of administration: types (oral or injectable treatment) and number of doses or injections per day.Patients and Methods: This is a national survey through a questionnaire sent by e-mail to 1936 French vascular physicians between February and April 2019. They recorded the responses for each patient admitted for VTE.Results: Three hundred and eleven (response rate of 16%) of the 1936 contacted physicians responded for 364 patients. Among these, there were 167 fully completed questionnaires. Most patients (63%) express concerns about VTE and prefer oral treatment (81.5%), justified by the ease of administration (74%) and a fear of the injections (22%). When patients were taking more than three oral treatments they statistically chose injectable treatment more often (54%) than oral treatment (25%, p = 0.002). Patients who chose injectable treatment were also older (70 ± 16 vs. 58 ± 17 years old, p = 0.001). There was no statistically difference in anticoagulation preference according to gender or to the expected duration of treatment (6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months or unlimited). When oral treatment was preferred (81%), most chose oral treatment without dose adjustment and biomonitoring (74.3%). Among them, very few (5.8%) preferred a twice-daily intake.Conclusion: Patient preference in terms of anticoagulant treatment in VTE disease is in favor of oral treatment without adjustment or biomonitoring and with once-daily intake. When an injectable treatment is chosen, a prolonged duration of treatment does not seem to be a constraint for the patient.Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [NCT03889457]

Letter by Omarjee Regarding Article, "Vitamin K2 and D in Patients With Aortic Valve Calcification: A Randomized Double-Blinded Clinical Trial"

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Cardiovascular involvement in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum : Pathophysiological aspects and therapeutic strategies

L’objectif global de cette thèse était d’étudier, à partir de la cohorte des patients du centre de référence PXE du CHU d’Angers, différente aspects du phénotype cardiovasculaire (CV) du PXE. Ainsi, dans un premier travail, nous avons pu montrer dans l’étude GOCAPXE, que les calcifications ectopiques seraient un processus actif pouvant être détecté par une imagerie moléculaire utilisant un traceur spécifique de l’activité ostéoblastique, le 18-Fluorure de Sodium (18F-NaF); que ce processus était détectable avant même que ces calcifications ne soient visibles par les techniques d’imageries classiques; que ce processus était localisé aux zones habituellement lésées dans le PXE : les plis de flexion et le cou pour la peau et l’artère fémorale superficielle pour le vaisseau. Cette technique mériterait d’être validée dans une étude longitudinale et son rôle en tant biomarqueur diagnostique et de suivi serait ainsi envisageable. Le deuxième travail de cette thèse a été d’étudier les conséquences morphologiques et fonctionnelles d’une augmentation chronique de la pression artérielle chez les patients PXE. Cette question était pertinente car dans la littérature, la question d’une hypertension artérielle (HTA) chez les PXE reste controversée. Nous avons ainsi montré pour la première fois que dans un modèle d’HTA induite par le Deoxycorticostérone (DOCA)-Salt chez la souris Abcc6-/- cette augmentation de la pression artérielle induisait un remodelage CV avec à la fois de la fibrose et des calcifications dystrophiques. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent la nécessité d’un contrôle optimal de la pression artérielle chez les patients PXE. Le troisième travail de cette thèse a été de caractériser une lésion de la carotide interne détectée avec une fréquence élevée dans la cohorte angevine. Nous avons pu montrer que cette anomalie était une hypoplasie de la carotide interne d’origine probablement congénitale. Chez les patients de la cohorte angevine, cette lésion était associée à des anévrismes intracrâniens mais nous n’avons pas retrouvé d’association avec la survenue d’accident vasculaire cérébral. Ainsi, les résultats de cette étude invitent les praticiens prenant en charge des patients PXE à la rechercher systématiquement dans le bilan vasculaire d’un patient PXE. Si une telle lésion est retrouvée, une imagerie vasculaire intracrânienne devrait être proposée à la recherche d’anévrismes et leur prise en charge discuté en concertation multidisciplinaire. Enfin, le dernier travail a permis de montrer qu’un traitement systémique par le Thiosulfate de Sodium (STS), utilisé dans la calciphylaxie rénale, était efficace sur la régression des calcifications artérielles et cutanées chez une jeune garçon ayant un phénotype CV gravissime résultant de la combinaison délétères de plusieurs gènes pathogènes du spectre PXE Ce traitement mériterait d’être validé dans un essai thérapeutique chez l’humain mais aussi la démonstration de ses mécanismes d’action dans le modèle murin Abcc6-/-. Nous suggérons d’utiliser ce traitement en cas de PXE sévère et rapidement progressif notamment sur le plan vasculaire. Au terme de ce travail de thèse, nous avons montré que le gène ABCC6 était impliqué dans le remodelage vasculaire à la fois au niveau développemental (Hypoplasie Carotidienne) mais aussi acquis (Fibrose, Calcification Cardiaque Dystrophique). Nous avons montré aussi que les calcifications dans le PXE étaient tissus et localisations spécifiques, que ces calcifications étaient actives. Enfin nous avons ouvert la porte à un traitement des formes graves du PXE avec le Thiosulfate de Sodium. Une approche thérapeutique multimodale ciblant plusieurs mécanismes concourant aux calcifications seraient judicieux à évaluer dans les futurs essais cliniques.Since the discovery of the ABCC6 gene in 2000, mutations are at the origin of PseudoxanthomeElastic (PXE), knowledge of genetics, pathophysiology, phenotypic characterizations have has mademajor advances, notably with the Discovery in 2013 of the fundamental role of Pyrophosphateinorganic (PPi) as a deficient anti‐calcifying factor in patients. The overall goal of this thesis was tostudy, from the cohort of patients at the center of PXE reference of the CHU d'Angers, differentaspects of cardiovascular phenotype (CV) of PXE. Thus, in a first work, we were able to show in thestudy GOCAPXE, that ectopic calcifications would be a active process that can be detected by imagingUsing a specific activity tracer Osteoblastic, 18‐sodium fluoride (18F‐NaF); that this process wasdetectable even before these calcifications are not visible by conventional imaging techniques; thatthis process was localized to areas usually injured in the PXE: flexion folds and neck for skin and thesuperficial femoral artery for the vessel. This technique should be validated in a study longitudinaland its role as a diagnostic biomarker In this way, monitoring and monitoring could be considered.The second work of this thesis was to study the morphological consequences and functional of achronic increase in blood pressure in PXE patients. This question was relevant because in theliterature, the question of a high blood pressure (hypertension) in PXE remains controversial. Wehave thus shown for the first time that in a model of HTA induced by the Deoxycorticosterone(DOCA)‐Salt in Abcc6‐/‐ this increase in blood pressure led to a CV remodeling with both fibrosis andcalcifications dystrophic. The results of this study suggest need for optimal control of blood pressurein patients. The third work of this thesis was to characterize a lesion of the internal carotid detectedwith high frequency in the Angevine cohort. We have could show that this abnormality washypoplasia of the Probably congenital internal carotid. In the patients of the angevine cohort, thislesion was associated with intracranial aneurysms but we have not found in association with theoccurrence of vascular accident brain. Thus, the results of this study invite practitioners supportingPXE patients to search for it systematically in the vascular balance of a PXE patient. If such a lesion isfound, vascular imaging Intracranial should be proposed to research Aneurysms and theirmanagement discussed in consultation multidisciplinary. Finally, the latest work has made it possibleto show that systemic treatment with Thiosulphate Sodium (STS), used in renal calciphylaxia, waseffective on the regression of arterial calcifications and skin in a young boy with a phenotype CVGravel resulting from the deleterious combination of several pathogenic genes of the PXE spectrumThis treatment would deserve be validated in a human therapeutic trial but also the demonstrationof its mechanisms of action in the Abcc6‐/‐murin model. We suggest using this treatment for severeand rapidly progressive PXE especially on the vascular plane.At the end of this thesis work, we showed that the ABCC6 gene was involved in vascular remodelingat both at the developmental level (Carotid Hypoplasia) but also acquired (Fibrosis, CardiacCalcification Dystrophic). We also showed that calcifications in PXE were tissues and locationsspecific, that these calcifications were active. Finally we have opened the door to a treatment ofsevere forms of PXE with Sodium Thiosulphate. An approach multimodal therapy targeting multiplemechanisms this would be useful to evaluate in future clinical trials

The use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Nilotinib in Spondyloarthritis: does targeting inflammatory pathways with a treatment lead to vascular toxicity?

Abstract Spondylarthritis (SpA) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Recently, Paramarta et al. proposed the use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Nilotinib in Spondyloarthritis to target certain inflammatory pathways. However, Nilotinib, which is highly effective for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), is also associated with an increased risk of MACEs. The authors suggest that Nilotinib may be effective in peripheral SpA by modulating inflammation, but not in axial SpA. Considering the vascular toxicity of Nilotinib and the acceleration of atherosclerosis in SpA patients, we suggest taking MACEs as an end-point in future trials

Comment on “Magnesium supplementation in the treatment of pseudoxanthoma elasticum”: Is magnesium oxide the best choice?

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Exercise Transcutaneous Oximetry of the Buttocks, External Validation With Computed Tomography Angiography

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Exercise Ischemia Induced by Essential Thrombocytemia Diagnosed on Treadmill Test - Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure Measurement of Foot Ischemia -

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Performance of noninvasive laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle contrast imaging methods in diagnosis of Buerger disease. A case report

International audienceRationale: Buerger disease (BD) is a nonatherosclerotic, inflammatory, segmental vascular occlusive disease, which affects small and medium-sized arteries and veins and is triggered by substantial tobacco exposure. Angiographic findings consistent with BD are required for diagnosis. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) could represent potential noninvasive alternative techniques to angiography.Patient concerns: We report the case of a 49-year-old smoker who developed an ischemic ulcer in the distal segment of the second finger of the left hand. He had no medical history.Diagnoses: In our vascular center, LDF and LSCI are conducted routinely for digital artery disease diagnosis. LDF was indicative of digital obstructive artery disease (DOAD). Postocclusive reactive hyperemia, assessed by LCSI, demonstrated no skin blood flow (SBF) perfusion in the distal phalanx of the thumb, index, middle, and auricular fingers. Angiography confirmed BD, showing distally located multisegmental vessel occlusion and corkscrew collaterals in this patient’s hands.Interventions: Ilomedine treatment was initiated and smoking cessation was definitive.Outcomes:Recently, the patient had an improvement in clinical condition despite the persistence of a small zone of necrosis of the left index finger 28 days post-treatment.Lessons: Our observation suggests that where suspicion of BD is based on clinical criteria, combining LDF and LSCI could represent a noninvasive, safe means of reaching BD diagnosis. Further clinical trials are necessary to confirm this novel observation

Improvement of peripheral artery disease with Sildenafil and Bosentan combined therapy in a patient with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis A case report

International audienceRationale: Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitor and Bosentan, an endothelin-1-receptor antagonist combined therapy could have beneficial effect in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with peripheral artery disease. Patient concerns: We report a case of a 48-year-old Black woman, who developed severe left limb claudication and walking limitation following a left femoropopliteal bypass occlusion in 2014. She was a heavy smoker and had a history of right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke and bilateral Raynaud phenomenon. Diagnoses: According to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism-2013 criteria, diagnosis of limited cutaneous SSc was retained with macrovascular lesions. She was referred for investigation of left limb claudication on treadmill using transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement during exercise to argue for the vascular origin of the walking impairment. She had a severe left limb ischemia and the maximum walking distance (MWD) she reached was 118 m in March 2015 despite the medical optimal treatment and walking rehabilitation. Interventions: Sildenafil, 20mg tid, was introduced due to active digital ulcers. In July 2015, the MWD increased to 288 m, then to 452 m in December 2015. Adding Bosentan to Sildenafil to prevent recurrent digital ulcers resulted in an MWD of 1576 m. Outcomes: Recently, the patient is treated with the combined therapy. She has no more pain during walking and his quality of life has improved. Lessons: Sildenafil and Bosentan combined therapy was associated in our case with an improvement of MWD without adverse effect. Further clinical trials are necessary to confirm our original observation