Smoking hinders effectiveness of embolization procedureJuly 31, 2019 - 16:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Embolization procedures to treat blood vessel abnormalities in the lungs are less effective if the patient is a smoker, according to a new study published in Radiology. The authors examined data from 103 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) who underwent embolization to block pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). All patients were treated from January 2000 to August 2017. Overall, there was a five-year PAVM persistence rate of 17.3%. Patients were more likely to experience PAVM persistence after treatment if they smokers than if they had never smoked. The five-year persistence rate was 12.2% for nonsmokers, 21.9% for smokers with 20 pack-years or less and 37.8% or smokers with more than 20 pack-years. In addition, the five-year persistence rate of patients who reported regular tobacco use at the time of the procedure was (26.3%) nearly twice the rate of inactive smokers (13.5%). “Smoking creates an inflammatory response,” senior author Sanjay Misra, MD, department of radiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said in a prepared statement. “More inflammation creates a greater likelihood of failure for smokers compared to those who never smoked.” Misra also noted that patients are urged to stop smoking before being treated for PAVMs. “Smoking cessation is very important if these patients want to help themselves and avoid further procedures,” she said in the same statement. Misra and colleagues did write that their research had certain limitations. It was a retrospective study for instance, and included a relatively small sample size. The team added that “verification of these results in a multicenter study would provide further validation of our findings.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. |