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In medicine, May-Thurner syndrome (MTS), also known as the iliac vein compression syndrome, is a rare condition in which compression of the common venous outflow tract of the left lower extremity may cause discomfort, swelling, pain or blood clots, called deep venous thrombosis (DVT), in the iliofemoral vein.
The specific problem is compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery. This leads to pooling or stasis of blood, predisposing the individual to the formation of blood clots. Uncommon variations of MTS have been described, such as the right common iliac vein getting compressed by the right common iliac artery.
In the 21st century the May-Thurner syndrome definition has been expanded to a broader disease profile known as nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL) which can involve both the right and left iliac veins as well as multiple other named venous segments. This syndrome frequently manifests as pain when the limb is dependent (hanging down the edge of a bed/chair) and/or significant swelling of the whole limb.
May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is thought to represent between two and five percent of lower-extremity venous disorders. May-Thurner syndrome is often unrecognized; however, current estimates are that this condition is three times more common in women than in men. The classic syndrome typically presents in the second to fourth decades of life. In the 21st century in a broader disease profile, the syndrome acts as a permissive lesion and becomes symptomatic when something else happens such as, following trauma, a change in functional status such as swelling following orthopaedic joint replacement.
It is important to consider May-Thurner syndrome in patients who have no other obvious reason for hypercoagulability and who present with left lower extremity thrombosis. To rule out other causes for hypercoagulation, it may be appropriate to check the antithrombin, protein C, protein S, factor V Leiden, and prothrombin G20210A.
Venography will demonstrate the classical syndrome when causing deep venous thrombosis.
May-Thurner syndrome in the broader disease profile known as nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVLs) exists in the symptomatic ambulatory patient and these lesions are usually not seen by venography. Morphologically, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has emerged as the best current tool in the broader sense. Functional testing such as duplex ultrasound, venous and interstitial pressure measurement and plethysmography may sometimes be beneficial. Compression of the left common iliac vein may be seen on pelvic CT.
Common signs and symptoms of DVT include pain or tenderness, swelling, warmth, redness or discoloration, and distention of surface veins, although about half of those with the condition have no symptoms. Signs and symptoms alone are not sufficiently sensitive or specific to make a diagnosis, but when considered in conjunction with known risk factors, can help determine the likelihood of DVT. In most suspected cases, DVT is ruled out after evaluation, and symptoms are more often due to other causes, such as cellulitis, Baker's cyst, musculoskeletal injury, or lymphedema. Other differential diagnoses include hematoma, tumors, venous or arterial aneurysms, and connective tissue disorders.
Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is a very large and dangerous type of DVT. It is characterized by an acute and almost total venous occlusion of the entire extremity outflow, including the iliac and femoral veins. The leg is usually painful, tinged blue in color, and swollen, which may result in venous gangrene.
The acute syndrome presents with rapidly progressive severe upper abdominal pain, yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes, liver enlargement, enlargement of the spleen, fluid accumulation within the peritoneal cavity, elevated liver enzymes, and eventually encephalopathy. The fulminant syndrome presents early with encephalopathy and ascites. Liver cell death and severe lactic acidosis may be present as well. Caudate lobe enlargement is often present. The majority of patients have a slower-onset form of Budd–Chiari syndrome. This can be painless. A system of venous collaterals may form around the occlusion which may be seen on imaging as a "spider's web". Patients may progress to cirrhosis and show the signs of liver failure.
On the other hand, incidental finding of a silent, asymptomatic form may not be a cause for concern.
Budd–Chiari syndrome is a very rare condition, affecting 1 in a million adults. The condition is caused by occlusion of the hepatic veins that drain the liver. It presents with the classical triad of abdominal pain, ascites, and liver enlargement. The formation of a blood clot within the hepatic veins can lead to Budd–Chiari syndrome. The syndrome can be fulminant, acute, chronic, or asymptomatic.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly the legs. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, redness, or warmth of the affected area. About half of cases have no symptoms. Complications may include pulmonary embolism, as a result of detachment of a clot which travels to the lungs, and post-thrombotic syndrome.
Risk factors include recent surgery, cancer, trauma, lack of movement, obesity, smoking, hormonal birth control, pregnancy and the period following birth, antiphospholipid syndrome, and certain genetic conditions. Genetic factors include deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C, and protein S, and factor V Leiden mutation. The underlying mechanism typically involves some combination of decreased blood flow rate, increased tendency to clot, and injury to the blood vessel wall.
Individuals suspected of having DVT may be assessed using a clinical prediction rule such as the Wells score. A D-dimer test may also be used to assist with excluding the diagnosis or to signal a need for further testing. Diagnosis is most commonly confirmed by ultrasound of the suspected veins. Together, DVT and pulmonary embolism are known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Anticoagulation (blood thinners) is the standard treatment. Typical medications include low-molecular-weight heparin, warfarin, or a direct oral anticoagulant. Wearing graduated compression stockings may reduce the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome. Prevention may include early and frequent walking, calf exercises, aspirin, anticoagulants, graduated compression stockings, or intermittent pneumatic compression. The rate of DVTs increases from childhood to old age; in adulthood, about one in 1000 adults are affected per year. About 5% of people are affected by a VTE at some point in time.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), also known as Asherson's syndrome, is an acute and complex biological process that leads to occlusion of small vessels of various organs. It was first described by Ronald Asherson in 1992. The syndrome exhibits thrombotic microangiopathy, multiple organ thrombosis, and in some cases tissue necrosis and is considered an extreme or catastrophic variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome.
CAPS has a mortality rate of about 50%. With the establishment of a CAPS-Registry more has been learned about this syndrome, but its cause remains unknown. Infection, trauma, medication, and/or surgery can be identified in about half the cases as a "trigger". It is thought that cytokines are activated leading to a cytokine storm with the potentially fatal consequences of organ failure. A low platelet count is a common finding. Individuals with CAPS often exhibit a positive test to antilipid antibodies, typically IgG, and may or may not have a history of lupus or another connective tissue disease. Association with another disease such as lupus is called a secondary APS unless it includes the defining criteria for CAPS.
Clinically, the syndrome affects at least three organs and may affect many organs systems. Peripheral thrombosis may be encountered affecting veins and arteries. Intraabdominal thrombosis may lead to pain. Cardiovascular, nervous, kidney, and lung system complications are common. The affected individual may exhibit skin purpura and necrosis. Cerebral manifestations may lead to encephalopathy and seizures. Myocardial infarctions may occur. Strokes may occur due to the arterial clotting involvement. Death may result from multiple organ failure.
Treatments may involve the following steps:
- Prevention includes the use of antibiotics for infection and parenteral anticoagulation for susceptible patients.
- Specific therapy includes the use of intravenous heparin and corticosteroids, and possibly plasma exchanges, intravenous immunoglobulin.
- Additional steps may have to be taken to manage circulatory problems, kidney failure, and respiratory distress.
- When maintaining survival of the disease treatments also include high doses of Rituxan (Rituximab) to maintain stability.
Signs and symptoms of CVI in the leg include the following:
- Varicose veins
- Itching (pruritus)
- Hyperpigmentation
- Phlebetic lymphedema
- Chronic swelling of the legs and ankles
- Venous ulceration
CVI in the leg may cause the following:
- Venous stasis
- Ulcers.
- Stasis dermatitis, also known as varicose eczema
- Contact dermatitis. Patients with venous insufficiency have a disrupted epidermal barrier, making them more susceptible than the general population to contact sensitization and subsequent dermatitis.
- Atrophie blanche. This is an end point of a variety of conditions, appears as atrophic plaques of ivory white skin with telangiectasias. It represents late sequelae of lipodermatosclerosis where the skin has lost its nutrient blood flow.
- Lipodermatosclerosis. This is an indurated plaque in the medial malleolus.
- Malignancy. Malignant degeneration is a rare but important complication of venous disease since tumors which develop in the setting of an ulcer tend to be more aggressive.
- Pain. Pain is a feature of venous disease often overlooked and commonly undertreated.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Inflammation
- Discoloration
- Skin thickening
- Cellulitis
The most common cause of chronic venous insufficiency is reflux of the venous valves of superficial veins. This may in turn be caused by several conditions:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), that is, blood clots in the deep veins. Chronic venous insufficiency caused by DVT may be described as postthrombotic syndrome.
- Superficial vein thrombosis.
- Phlebitis
- May–Thurner syndrome. This is a rare condition in which blood clots occur in the iliofemoral vein due to compression of the blood vessels in the leg. The specific problem is compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery. Many May-Thurner compressions are overlooked when there is no blood clot. More and more of them get nowadays diagnosed and treated (by stenting) due to advanced imaging techniques.
Deep and superficial vein thrombosis may in turn be caused by thrombophilia, which is an increased propensity of forming blood clots.
Arteriovenous fistula (an abnormal connection or passageway between an artery and a vein) may cause chronic venous insufficiency even with working vein valves.
There is considerable variability in the phenotype of Loeys–Dietz syndrome, from mild features to severe systemic abnormalities. The primary manifestations of Loeys–Dietz syndrome are arterial tortuosity (winding course of blood vessels), widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism), wide or split uvula, and aneurysms at the aortic root. Other features may include cleft palate and a blue/gray appearance of the white of the eyes. Cardiac defects and club foot may be noted at birth.
There is overlap in the manifestations of Loeys–Dietz and Marfan syndromes, including increased risk of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, abnormally long limbs and fingers, and dural ectasia (a gradual stretching and weakening of the dura mater that can cause abdominal and leg pain). Findings of hypertelorism (widely spaced eyes), bifrid or split uvula, and skin findings such as easy bruising or abnormal scars may distinguish Loys-Dietz from Marfan syndrome.
Findings of Loys-Dietz syndrome may include:
- Skeletal/spinal malformations: craniosynositosis, Scoliosis, spinal instability and spondylolisthesis, Kyphosis
- Sternal abnormalities: pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum
- Contractures of fingers and toes (camptodactyly)
- Long fingers and lax joints
- Weakened or missing eye muscles (strabismus)
- Club foot
- Premature fusion of the skull bones (craniosynostosis)
- Joint hypermobility
- Congenital heart problems including patent ductus arteriosus (connection between the aorta and the lung circulation) and atrial septal defect (connection between heart chambers)
- Translucency of the skin with velvety texture
- Abnormal junction of the brain and medulla (Arnold-Chiari malformation)
- Bicuspid aortic valves
- Criss-crossed pulmonary arteries
Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant genetic connective tissue disorder. It has features similar to Marfan syndrome and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. The disorder is marked by aneurysms in the aorta, often in children, and the aorta may also undergo sudden dissection in the weakened layers of the wall of aorta. Aneurysms and dissections also can occur in arteries other than the aorta. Because aneurysms in children tend to rupture early, children are at greater risk for dying if the syndrome is not identified. Surgery to repair aortic aneurysms is essential for treatment.
There are four types of the syndrome, labelled types I through IV, which are distinguished by their genetic cause. Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 are caused by mutations in "TGFBR1", "TGFBR2", "SMAD3", and "TGFB2" respectively. These four genes encoding transforming growth factors play a role in cell signaling that promotes growth and development of the body's tissues. Mutations of these genes cause production of proteins without function. Although the disorder has an autosomal pattern of inheritance, this disorder results from a new gene mutation in 75% of cases and occurs in people with no history of the disorder in their family.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome was identified and characterized by pediatric geneticists Bart Loeys and Harry Dietz at Johns Hopkins University in 2005.
No specific set of criteria has been developed for diagnosis of pacemaker syndrome. Most of the signs and symptoms of pacemaker syndrome are nonspecific, and many are prevalent in the elderly population at baseline. In the lab, pacemaker interrogation plays a crucial role in determining if the pacemaker mode had any contribution to symptoms.
Symptoms commonly documented in patients history, classified according to cause:
- Neurological - Dizziness, near syncope, and confusion.
- Heart failure - Dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and edema.
- Hypotension - Seizure, mental status change, diaphoresis, and signs of orthostatic hypotension and shock.
- Low cardiac output - Fatigue, weakness, dyspnea on exertion, lethargy, and lightheadedness.
- Hemodynamic - Pulsation in the neck and abdomen, choking sensation, jaw pain, right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain, chest colds, and headache.
- Heart rate related - Palpitations associated with arrhythmias
In particular, the examiner should look for the following in the physical examination, as these are frequent findings at the time of admission:
- Vital signs may reveal hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, or low oxygen saturation.
- Pulse amplitude may vary, and blood pressure may fluctuate.
- Look for neck vein distension and cannon waves in the neck veins.
- Lungs may exhibit crackles.
- Cardiac examination may reveal regurgitant murmurs and variability of heart sounds.
- Liver may be pulsatile, and the RUQ may be tender to palpation. Ascites may be present in severe cases.
- The lower extremities may be edematous.
- Neurologic examination may reveal confusion, dizziness, or altered mental status.
Onset is usually confined to infancy and early childhood, with peak prevalence at 18–36 months. In rare cases, particularly where the child is severely mentally impaired, onset may extend to adolescence.
The classical symptoms of the syndrome are spasmodic torticollis and dystonia. Nodding and rotation of the head, neck extension, gurgling, writhing movements of the limbs, and severe hypotonia have also been noted.
Spasms may last for 1–3 minutes and may occur up to 10 times a day. Ingestion of food is often associated with occurrence of symptoms; this may result in reluctance to feed. Associated symptoms, such as epigastric discomfort, vomiting (which may involve blood) and abnormal eye movements have been reported. Clinical signs may also include anaemia.
Sufferers usually have long, thin fingers and toes with contractures preventing straightening and limiting movement. Contractures also affect hips, elbows, knees and ankles. They also have unusual external ears that appear crumpled. Contractures may be present from birth and may appear as a club foot. Long bone fractures may also form a part of the syndrome, though the evidence for this is limited to the case report level.
The ‘Harlequin Sign’ is unilateral flushing and sweating of the face, neck, and upper chest usually after exposure to heat or strenuous exertion. Horner syndrome, another problem associated with the sympathetic nervous system, is often seen in conjunction with harlequin syndrome.
Since Harlequin syndrome is associated with a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system, main symptoms of this dysfunction are in the following: Absence of sweat(anhidrosis) and flushing on one side of the face, neck, or upper thoracic area. In addition, other symptoms include cluster headaches, tearing of the eyes, nasal discharge, abnormal contraction of the pupils, weakness in neck muscles, and drooping of on side of the upper eyelid.
Harlequin syndrome is a condition characterized by asymmetric sweating and flushing on the upper thoracic region of the chest, neck, and face. Harlequin syndrome is considered an injury to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls some of the body's natural processes such as sweating, skin flushing, and pupil response to stimuli. Such individuals with this syndrome have an absence of sweat skin flushing unilaterally; usually on the one side of the face, arms, and chest. It is an autonomic disorder that may occur at any age. Harlequin syndrome affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.
Symptoms associated with Harlequin syndrome are more likely to appear when a person has been in the following conditions: exercising, warm environment, and intense emotional situation. Since one side of the body sweats and flushes appropriately to the condition, the other side of the body will have an absence of such symptoms. This syndrome has also been called the "Harlequin sign," and thought to be one of the spectrum of diseases that may cause Harlequin syndrome.
It can also be the outcome of a one sided endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) or endoscopic sympathetic blockade (ESB) surgery.
Harlequin syndrome can also be seen as a complication of VA (veno-arterial) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This involves differential hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood) of the upper body in comparison to the lower body.
Sandifer syndrome (or Sandifer's syndrome) is an eponymous paediatric medical disorder, characterised by gastrointestinal symptoms and associated neurological features. There is a significant correlation between the syndrome and Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD); however, it is estimated to occur in less than 1% of children with reflux.
Pacemaker syndrome is a disease that represents the clinical consequences of suboptimal atrioventricular (AV) synchrony or AV dyssynchrony, regardless of the pacing mode, after pacemaker implantation.
It is an iatrogenic disease—an adverse effect resulting from medical treatment—that is often underdiagnosed. In general, the symptoms of the syndrome are a combination of decreased cardiac output, loss of atrial contribution to ventricular filling, loss of total peripheral resistance response, and nonphysiologic pressure waves.
Individuals with a low heart rate prior to pacemaker implantation are more at risk of developing pacemaker syndrome. Normally the first chamber of the heart (atrium) contracts as the second chamber (ventricle) is relaxed, allowing the ventricle to fill before it contracts and pumps blood out of the heart. When the timing between the two chambers goes out of synchronization, less blood is delivered on each beat. Patients who develop pacemaker syndrome may require adjustment of the pacemaker, or fitting of another lead to better coordinate the timing of atrial and ventricular contraction.
Symptoms usually present from the period of birth to early childhood as: nose bleeds, bruising, and/or gum bleeding. Problems later in life may arise from anything that can cause internal bleeding such as: stomach ulcers, surgery, trauma, or menstruation. Abnormality of the abdomen, Epistaxis, Menorrhagia, Purpura, Thrombocytopenia, and prolonged bleeding time have also been listed as symptoms of various Giant Platelet Disorders.
The acronym CHILD stands for the symptoms of the syndrome:
- CH = Congenital Hemidysplasia—One side of the body, most of the time the right side, is poorly developed. The right ribs, neck, vertebrae, etc. may be underdeveloped and the internal organs may be affected.
- I - Ichthyosiform Erythroderma—At birth or shortly after birth, there are red, inflamed patches (erythroderma), and flaky scales (ichthyosis) on the side of the body that is affected. Hair loss on the same side may also be possible.
- LD - limb defects—Fingers on the hand or toes on the foot of the affected side may be missing. An arm or leg may also be shortened or even missing.
Infants with Catel–Manzke syndrome have an extra (supernumerary), irregularly shaped bone known as a Hyperphalangy located between the first bone of the index finger (proximal phalanx) and the corresponding bone within the body of the hand (second metacarpal). As a result, the index fingers may be fixed in an abnormally bent position (clinodactyly). In some rare cases, additional abnormalities of the hands may also be present. Due to the presence of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate, affected infants may have feeding and breathing difficulties; growth deficiency; consistent middle ear infections (otitis media); and other complications.
In addition, some infants with the syndrome may have structural abnormalities of the heart that are present at birth (congenital heart defects). The range and severity of symptoms and findings may vary from case to case. Catel–Manzke syndrome usually appears to occur randomly, for unknown sporadic reasons.
Giant platelet disorders can be further categorized:
- caused by auto-immune disorders, for example Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and characterized by low platelet count, but high MPV (Mean-Platelet Volume).
- Caused by glycoprotein abnormalities: Bernard-Soulier syndrome, Velocardiofacial syndrome
- Caused by calpain defect: Montreal platelet syndrome
- Caused by alpha granules defect: Gray platelet syndrome
- Characterized by abnormal neutrophil inclusions: May-Hegglin anomaly, Sebastian syndrome
- With systemic manifestations: Hereditary macrothrombocytopenia with hearing loss, Epstein syndrome, Fechtner syndrome
- With no specific abnormalities: Mediterranean macrothrombocytopenia
- Harris platelet syndrome
Ballantyne syndrome has several characteristics:
- edema, always a key feature
- albuminuria of the mother, usually mild
- preeclampsia, unusual
The fetal symptoms are related to fluid retention, including ascites and polyhydramnios.
Fetal hydrops suggests the presence of an important and probably fatal fetal pathology.
It can be associated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Brown's syndrome can be divided in two categorizes based on the restriction of movement on the eye itself and how it affects the eye excluding the movement:
- Congenital (present at birth) Brown's syndrome results from structural anomalies other than a short tendon sheath but other fibrous adhesions may be present around the trochlear area.
- Acquired cases arise from trauma, surgery, sinusitis and inflammation of the superior oblique tendon sheath in rheumatoid arthritis. Orbital floor fractures may trap the orbital tissue in such a way as to simulate Brown's syndrome. Intermittent forms of vertical retraction syndrome have been associated with click, which occurs as the restriction is released (superior oblique click syndrome).
The signs and symptoms of POEMS syndrome are highly variable. This often leads to long delays (e.g. 13–18 months) between the onset of initial symptoms and diagnosis. In addition to the signs and symptoms indicated by the POEMS acronym, the PEST acronym is used to describe some of the other signs and symptoms of the disease. PEST stands for Papilledema, evidence of Extravascular volume overload (ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and lower extremity edema), Sclerotic bone lesions, and Thrombocytosis/erythrocytosis (i.e. increased in blood platelets and red blood cells). Other features of the disease include a tendency toward leukocytosis, blood clot formation, abnormal lung function (restrictive lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and impaired lung diffusion capacity), very high blood levels of the cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and an overlap with the signs and symptoms of multicentric Castleman disease.