Eric J. Heyer

BACKGROUND:. Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D), through the regulation of cyclic AMP, modulates inflammation and other processes that affect atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetic patients have a high incidence of cerebrovascular disease, elevated inflammation, and high risk of developing cognitive dysfunction following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). To elucidate the relationship between inflammation and the risk of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients, we aim to determine whether elevated levels of systemic inflammatory markers are associated with cognitive dysfunction 1 day after CEA. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred fifteen type 2 diabetic CEA patients and 156 reference surgical patients were recruited with written informed consent in this single-center cohort study. All patients were evaluated with an extensive battery of neuropsychometric tests. Preoperative monocyte counts, HbA1c, C-reactive protein (CRP), intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity levels were obtained. RESULTS: In a multivariate logistic regression model constructed to identify predictors of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetic CEA patients, each unit of monocyte counts (odds ratio [OR] 1.76 [95% CI 1.17–2.93]; P = 0.005) and CRP (OR 1.17 [1.10–1.29]; P < 0.001) was significantly associated with higher odds of developing cognitive dysfunction 1 day after CEA in type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetic patients with elevated levels of preoperative systemic inflammatory markers exhibit more cognitive dysfunction 1 day after CEA. These observations have implications for the preoperative medical management of this high-risk group of surgical patients undergoing carotid revascularization with CEA.

Object: The role of genetic polymorphisms in the neurological outcome of patients after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains unclear. There are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that predispose patients to postoperative cognitive dysfunction (CD). We aim to assess the predictability of three complement cascade-related SNPs for CD in patients having CEAs. Methods: In 252 patients undergoing CEA, genotyping was performed for the following polymorphisms: complement component 5 (C5) rs17611, mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) rs7096206, and complement factor H (CFH) rs1061170. Differences among genotypes were analyzed via the chi-square test. Patients were evaluated with a neuropsychometric battery for CD 1 day and 1 month after CEA. A multiple logistic regression model was created. All variables with univariate p < 0.20 were included in the final model. Results: The C5 genotypes A/G (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11–0.60, p = 0.002) and G/G (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.09–0.52, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower odds of exhibiting CD at 1 day after CEA compared with A/A. The CFH genotypes C/T (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.69–6.92, p < 0.001) and C/C (OR 3.67, 95% CI 1.30–10.06, p = 0.012) were significantly associated with higher odds of exhibiting CD at 1 day after CEA compared with T/T. Statin use was also significantly associated with lower odds of exhibiting CD at 1 day after CEA (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22–0.84, p = 0.01). No SNPs were significantly associated with CD at 1 month after CEA. Conclusions: The presence of a deleterious allele in the C5 and CFH SNPs may predispose patients to exhibit CD after CEA. This finding supports previous data demonstrating that the complement cascade system may play an important role in the development of CD. These findings warrant further investigation.

Background and Purpose—: Statins are neuroprotective in a variety of experimental models of cerebral injury. We sought to determine whether patients taking statins before asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy exhibit a lower incidence of neurological injury (clinical stroke and cognitive dysfunction). Methods—: A total of 328 patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis scheduled for elective carotid endarterectomy consented to participate in this observational study of perioperative neurological injury. Results—: Patients taking statins had a lower incidence of clinical stroke (0.0% vs 3.1%; P =0.02) and cognitive dysfunction (11.0% vs 20.2%; P =0.03). In a multivariate regression model, statin use was significantly associated with decreased odds of cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.27–0.96]; P =0.04). Conclusions—: Preoperative statin use was associated with less neurological injury after asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy. These observations suggest that it may be possible to further reduce the perioperative morbidity of carotid endarterectomy. Clinical Trial Registration—: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00597883

We would like to thank Dr. Williams for responding to our editorial,1 which appeared in the February 2012 issue of ANESTHESIOLOGY.

PATIENTS who experience acute ischemic stroke increasingly are undergoing treatment with endovascular revascularization procedures. Davis et al. present a retrospective review encompassing their 6 yr experience treating 96 stroke patients with endovascular arterial revascularization, half receiving local anesthesia or sedation, and the remainder receiving general anesthesia.1 A number of recently published studies have implicated general anesthesia as a factor in poor outcome.2 – 5