[Use of PGE1 in severe ischemia of the lower extremities. Clinical study]

Abstract

Lower limb critical ischemia is a clinical condition typical of patients with severe chronic obstructive arterial disease (Fontaine's IIIb and IV degree). This condition often leads to amputation of the limb involved. The authors present to the use PGE1 in 50 patients with Fontaine's IIIb-IV degree chronic obstructive arterial disease of lower limbs in which the indication of amputation was done. All the patients, admitted to the emergency ward, complain of rest pain and distal ulcers. The administration of PG5(1) was given as follows: 40 mg/bid/e.v./20 days. A 6 months long follow-up was installed with the instrumental evaluation of: Transcutaneous oxygen pressure; Distal blood perfusion with Doppler; cardiac pulse; blood pressure. Eighteen patients became to a Fontaine's II degree during the next 2 months after therapy, 25 patients came back to a severe claudicatio: of them 18 underwent successfully vascular surgery, 7 underwent amputation of the lower limb. In 7 patients the PGE1 did not influence the natural progression of the disease. Among the side-effects of therapy we can mention: headache (4%), erythema and pain of injected vein (8%), sick (4%). All the side effects were transient and never led to interruption of therapy.