Abstract

With the discovery of Prostaglandins a new class of substances has been added to the family of the so-called vasoactive compounds.
The efficacy of intraarterial (IA) and intravenous (İV) PGE1 infusions in patients with advanced peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Fontaine Stage III and IV) was investigated in our prospective open study. 4 patients had stage III and 17 had stage IV disease. Total 21 patients. 3 women and 18 men aged 24 and 78 years (mean 49) were enrolled in the study. Infusions were performed by IA route in 9 cases and by IV route in 12 cases. In alI patients, vascular recon¬struction and luminal opening operations were in'ıpossible.

The criteria for assessing were relief of rest pain, ulcer healing, reduction of analgesic consumption, pain-free walking and irıcrease of ankle-brachial doppler index (ABI). Complete response was achieved in 16 cases, partial re¬sponse was observed in 4 cases, but one 0.59±0.19 to 0.75±0.21 for rignt side and from 0.61±0.22 to 0.76±0.22 for left side (p < 0.01 respectively).

These results demonstrate that the PGE 1 treatment in patients with advanced arterial occlusive disease is clinicaly effective both by IA and by IV route.

Key words: None