Anticipated results of arterial surgery in chronic atherosclerotic ischemia of the lower limb]

In 1983-1988, the results of conservative and surgical treatment of patients with atherosclerotic ischemia of the lower limbs were assessed with the aid of a questionnaire. A possibility of prognosis was assessed with the use of mathematically processed data obtained with such approach. An effect of clinical symptoms (intermittent claudication distance, resting pain, necrosis) and stage of the disease (duration, K/R index) and risk factors (blood cholesterol, triglycerides, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension) on the result of surgical treatment was analysed. The obtained results suggest that clinical symptoms and risk factors may predict the results of surgical treatment in the atherosclerotic ischemia of the lower limbs.     

Use of nitrendipine in treating patients with obliterative atherosclerosis of arteries in the lower extremities]

Twenty patients with obliterative atherosclerosis in the lower extremities arteries (Fontaine's stage II) were treated with nitrendipine (Bayotensin) given in the dose of 20 mg daily for 6 weeks. This therapy with nitrendipine produced improvement manifested by the prolongation of the distance of intermittent claudication, shortening of pain duration, increase in blood flow in the ischemic extremity, and increase in pressure index. At the same time, nitrendipine decreased ADP-produced platelet aggregation and activated fibrinolytic system. Clinical trials have shown that nitrendipine is effective in the obliterative atherosclerosis in the lower extremities.     

Phosphorus magnetic resonance in studying energy metabolism in skeletal muscles

The present study objective involved evaluation of possibilities of magnetic resonance spectroscopy with phosphorus (31P-MRS) in diagnosis of metabolic disorders of skeletal muscles in patients with intermittent claudication, chronic heart failure and varicose disease of the lower extremities. In 20 patients with intermittent claudication, 10 patients with chronic heart failure, 10 patients with varicose disease and 10 volunteers, 31P-MRS was performed with 1.5 T MR system (Magnetom SP 63, Siemens). The following parameters were computed: phosphorus-creatinine index, intracellular pH in calf muscle, and time of half-recovery of the phosphorus-creatinine index. At rest, the phosphorus-creatinine indexes were similar in all groups; pH values at rest did not vary either. During isotonic exercise the phosphorus-creatinine index in the control group remained uncharged. In patients with intermittent claudication, the phosphorus-creatinine index at peak of exercise was decreased by 26.1% (p < 0.001), in patients with varicose disease--by 25.6% (p < 0.001), in patients with chronic heart failure by 8% (p < 0.001). PCr recovery half-time was increased in all patients. The patient group with intermittent claudication showed a reverse correlation between the pressure index and the degree of phosphorus-creatinine index decrease. CONCLUSION: 31P-MRS makes it possible to carry out non-invasive diagnosis of energy metabolic disorders of skeletal muscles in patients with impaired peripheral hemodynamics.     

Behavior of calf blood flow in normal subjects and in patients with intermittent claudication during a 24-h time span.

Calf basal resting and reactive hypercemia blood flow were measured at 4-h intervals during a day in fifteen healthy subjects and in fifteen patients with intermittent claudication by means of a venous occlusion plethysmograph. Mathematical-statistical analysis of the data failed to demonstrate circadian periodicity of calf blood flow in healthy subjects, but proved the existence of a 24-h rhythm of calf basal resting and reactive hyperemia blood flow in patients with intermittent claudication. This different behavior of calf blood flow can be understood if one considers that in healthy subjects the voluntary muscles in the extremities have a blood supply which can be instantaneously adjusted over a large area. In patients with peripheral arterial disease, on the other hand, the vascular responses in voluntary muscles of the limbs to various endogenous or exogenous stimuli are impaired and reduced. The circadian rhythm observed in patients with intermittent claudication has early evening peaks and a nocturnal trough with a nadir occurring after midnight and before 0400. This rhythm displays marked similarities with those of all other circulatory values. As to the mechanism of rhythm, it is hard to decide whether or not it has an independent endogenous origin. It is known that many of the circulatory variables are interrelated and that some are clearly related to other circadian rhythms. Perhaps the rhythmic reduction of limb blood flow which occurs during the night is the mechanism underlying the nocturnal pain of subjects with limb ischemia by peripheral arterial disease.     

Impact of a walking program in people with down syndrome

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a pain-free treadmill walking program in intellectually disabled (ID) adults with arterial occlusive disease. Fourteen participants with mild ID participated in the walking program. Six patients showed stable intermittent claudication. A control (nontreadmill, n = 12) group consisted of 4 individuals with intermittent claudication. Noninvasive determinations of lower-limb hemodynamics included photoplethysmography and ankle-brachial pressure. Pain levels were measured according to a pain pathophysiology index. The treadmill program consisted of individually prescribed low-endurance walking at a 0% incline done at a comfortable speed 3 times per week. All participants completed the 15-week walking program and showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in walking speed, distance, and duration. Pain levels were reduced in individuals suffering from intermittent claudication. Blood hemodynamic parameters also showed significant improvements. In conclusion, low-intensity treadmill walking significantly improved the functional capacities of adult individuals with mild ID with vascular occlusion and reduced pain levels.     

Ozone therapy and viscosity of blood and plasma, distance of intermittent claudication and certain biochemical components in patients with diabetes type II and ischemia of the lower extremities]

Blood and plasma viscosity, total blood lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acids, fibrinogen, hematocrit, and lipidogram were determined in patients with diabetes mellitus type II and coexisting symptoms of the obliterative arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs. Intermittent claudication distance has been measured parallel. The same tests have been carried out after ozone therapy. A significant improvement in the intermittent claudication and reduction in blood and plasma viscosity have been noted. There was statistically significant correlation between intermittent claudication decrease and blood viscosity reduction following ozone therapy.     

自体骨髓衍生单核细胞植入治疗血管生成对硬皮病严重肢体缺血的影响

摘要 目的：探讨自体骨髓单个核细胞(bone marrow mononuclear cells,BM-MNC)植入治疗血管生成对硬皮病严重肢体缺血的影响。方法：收集我院2018年6月-2021年1月收治的腔隙性脑梗死(cerebral lacunar infarction,CLI)伴系统性硬皮病患者(systemic sclerosis,SSc)患者60例,根据患者治疗意愿区分为研究组（接受BM-MNC治疗,30例）与对照组（接受常规保守治疗,30例）,对比两组患者干预后疼痛度、跛行距离、踝肱指数(ankle brachial index,ABI)、经皮氧分压以及不良反应的发生情况。结果：治疗前两组患者的VAS评分、跛行距离组间差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,治疗1个月时两组患者的VAS评分均较治疗前均降低,跛行距离均延长,组间差异明显（P<0.05）,治疗6个月时比较显示研究组VAS评分明显低于对照组,跛行距离明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗前两组患者的ABI、经皮氧分压差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,治疗1个月时两组患者的ABI、经皮氧分压均较治疗前升高（P<0.05）,组间差异明显（P<0.05）,治疗6个月时比较显示研究组ABI和经皮氧分压明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组治疗6个月期间出现中风1例,肝肾功异常2例,不良反应总发生率为6.00 %,对照组治疗6个月期间出现非致命性心肌梗死1例,中风1例,肝肾功能异常3例,不良反应总发生率10.00 %,两组间不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：对CLI伴发SSc患者实施自体骨髓衍生单核细胞植入治疗可行性较好,能够显著改善患者的肢体功能及患肢血运,同时治疗安全性较高,值得临床推广应用。     

自体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗缺血性下肢血管病变患者254例

目的探讨自体骨髓单个核细胞移植在下肢缺血性疾病治疗中的应用并评价其疗效。方法回顾性总结分析解放军第四六三医院细胞治疗中心2003年11月至2008年8月住院的具有完整随访资料的下肢缺血性疾病患者254例,经动员后采集及分离自体骨髓,行下肢自体骨髓单个核细胞移植术。随访时间为1年。术后随访指标：3、6、12个月后复查皮温、深感觉、经皮氧分压和踝肱比,随访疼痛、冷感和跛行距离,观察溃疡和坏疽情况。采用F检验分析差异的统计学意义。结果完成随访254例患者。（1）患者的疼痛缓解率为61．8％（157例／254例）,冷感缓解率缓解率74．0％（188例／254例）,跛行好转率40．2％（102例／254例）,溃疡好转率59．0％（36例／61例）,坏疽截肢6例,脱落愈合5例,无变化8例,扩大7例;（2）患者下肢皮温由32．89℃±2．19℃上升至35．52℃±2．26℃（t=13．32,P=0．000）,深感觉缓解由（26．20±15．78）mV下降至（20．34±10．86）mV（t=4．901,P=0．000）,经皮氧分压由（26．46±18．49）mmHg上升至（34．14±14．99）mmHg（t=5．157,P=0．000）,踝肱比由0．62±0．36上升至0．84±0．24（t=8．104,P=0．000）。结论骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗下肢缺血性血管病有效,是一种简单的、有效的治疗下肢动脉缺血性疾病的方法。     

Lack of effect of ischemia and dipyridamole on prostacyclin production in arteriosclerosis obliterans

Six patients with advanced arteriosclerosis obliterans in the lower extremities were subjected to an exercise test on a tread mill with and without dipyridamole treatment. Prostacyclin (PGI₂) release was measured by the concentration of its stable metabolite, 6-keto prostaglandin F_1α in plasma. All the patients suffered from ischemic pain during both tests, but no changes were seen in plasma 6-keto-PGF_1α. Dipyridamole did not affect the physical performance. Our results suggest that atherosclerotic vessels do not increase PGI₂ production in response to ischemia and that a single dose of dipyridamole does not change PGI₂ production.     

beta blockade and intermittent claudication: placebo controlled trial of atenolol and nifedipine and their combination.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the effects of the beta 1 selective adrenoceptor blocker atenolol, the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist nifedipine, and the combination of atenolol plus nifedipine on objective and subjective measures of walking performance and foot temperature in patients with intermittent claudication. DESIGN--Randomised controlled double blind four way crossover trial. SETTING--Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. SUBJECTS--49 patients (40 men) aged 39-70 with chronic stable intermittent claudication. INTERVENTIONS--Atenolol 50 mg twice daily; slow release nifedipine 20 mg twice daily; atenolol 50 mg plus slow release nifedipine 20 mg twice daily; placebo. Each treatment was given for four weeks with no washout interval between treatments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Claudication and walking distances on treadmill; skin temperature of feet as measured by thermistor and probe; blood pressure before and after exercise; subjective assessments of walking difficulty and foot coldness with visual analogue scales. RESULTS--Atenolol did not significantly alter claudication distance (mean change -6%; 95% confidence interval 1% to -13%), walking distance (-2%; 4% to -8%), or foot temperature. Nifedipine did not alter claudication distance (-4%; 3% to -11%), walking distance (-4%; 3% to -10%), or foot temperature. Atenolol plus nifedipine did not alter claudication distance but significantly reduced walking distance (-9%; -3% to -15% (p less than 0.003)) and skin temperature of the more affected foot (-1.1 degrees C; 0 to -2.2 degrees C (p = 0.05)). These effects on walking distance and foot temperature seemed unrelated to blood pressure changes. CONCLUSIONS--There was no evidence of adverse or beneficial effects of atenolol or nifedipine, when given singly, on peripheral vascular disease. The combined treatment, however, affected walking ability and foot temperature adversely. This may have been due to beta blockade plus reduced vascular resistance, which might also explain the reported adverse effects of pindolol and labetalol on claudication.     

Intermittent claudication: is a supervised exercise class worth while?

Twenty-one patients (19 men and two women) with disabling exercise-related leg pain attended a physiotherapy department on one afternoon each week for an exercise training programme lasting one month. The clinical diagnosis of intermittent claudication and localisation of the atherosclerotic occlusions were confirmed in all but one case by pulse volume recordings and segmental Doppler systolic pressure measurements. Two patients whose symptoms worsened underwent arterial reconstruction. Post-training assessment at six months showed that the remaining 18 patients walked 80% further and performed 75% more step-ups. They also felt much healthier, having unduly restricted their activities before because they had feared the onset of ischaemic leg pain. These results suggest that supervised exercise training is a simple and effective method of treating patients with intermittent claudication.     

Run-Off Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) for Discriminating the Underlying Causes of Intermittent Claudication

AimTo evaluate run-off computed tomography angiography (CTA) of abdominal aorta and lower extremities for detecting musculoskeletal pathologies and clinically relevant extravascular incidental findings in patients with intermittent claudication (IC) and suspected peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Does run-off CTA allow image-based therapeutic decision making by discriminating the causes of intermittent claudication in patients with suspected peripheral arterial disease PAD?ResultsWhile focused on vascular imaging, CTA image quality was sufficient for evaluation of the MSK system in all cases. The underlying cause of IC was diagnosed in run-off CTA as vascular, MSK and a combination in n = 138 (65%), n = 10 (4%), and n = 66 (31%) cases, respectively. Specific vascular or MSK therapy was recorded in n = 123 and n = 9 cases. In n = 82, no follow-up was possible. Clinically relevant extravascular incidental findings were detected in n = 65 patients (30%) with neoplasia, ascites and pleural effusion being the most common findings.DiscussionRun-off CTA allows identification of vascular, MSK, and combined causes of IC in patients with suspected PAD and can guide specific therapy. CTA also allowed confident detection of crEVIF although detection did not necessarily trigger workup or treatment.     

Kallikrein in the treatment of patients with obliterative atherosclerosis of the lower limbs and its mechanism of action]

Kallikrein (Padutin-Depot) was administered to 20 patients with obliterative atherosclerosis of the lower limbs of the II degree (19 patients) and IV degree (1 patient). The drug was given in the daily dose of 40 U i.m. for 28 days. An effect of kallikrein on the distance in intermittent claudication, rate of pain relieve after walking the maximal distance, blood flow in the lower limbs, and on the index of circulating aggregates have been determined. Clinical improvement has been noted after a 4-week therapy with kallikrein. The drug in a single dose of 40 U activates plasma fibrinolytic system for 5 hours and decreases the number of circulating aggregates (2-5 h). The authors explain kallikrein action as the release of endogenous bradykinin, which subsequently releases two epithelial mediators, i.e. PFG1 and EDRF.     

Ozone therapy and viscosity of blood and plasma, distance of intermittent claudication and certain biochemical plasma components in patients with occlusive arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs]

Blood and plasma viscosity, total lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acids, fibrinogen, lipid-gram, and hematocrit were determined in 53 patients with occlusive arteriosclerosis in the lower limbs prior to and after ozone therapy. At the same time the distance of the intermittent claudication was measured. A significant prolongation of the distance walked painlessly, reduction in blood and plasma viscosity as well as the decrease in total cholesterol after therapy with ozone correlated with a decrease of the blood viscosity.     

经皮血管腔内成形术联合自体外周血单个核细胞治疗糖尿病足下肢血管病变的临床研究

目的:探讨经皮血管腔内成形术(PTA)联合自体外周血单个核细胞(PBMNCs)移植治疗糖尿病足下肢血管病变的临床疗效。方法:选取内蒙古医科大学第二附属医院2016年8月至2017年9月期间收治的糖尿病足下肢血管病变患者共120例,按随机数字表法分为3组:对照1组共40例,进行自体PBMNCs移植;对照2组共40例,进行PTA治疗;联合治疗组共40例,在进行PTA治疗的同时于缺血部位注入PBMNCs。观察3组的血管疏通情况,比较治疗前、治疗后1、6、12个月的跛行距离、踝肱指数(ABI),记录3组并发症发生情况。结果:联合治疗组患者的手术成功率为100.00%(40/40),高于对照1组的40.00%(16/40)、对照2组的55.00%(22/40),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后1、6、12个月联合治疗组的跛行距离、ABI高于对照1组和对照2组(P0.05)。联合治疗组并发症总发生率为5.00%(2/40),低于对照1组的37.50%(15/40)和对照2组的25.00%(10/40),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:PTA联合自体PBMNCs移植是一种安全、有效、微创的治疗糖尿病足下肢血管病变的方法,其能够改善患者的血管疏通和病情。     

Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 11. Release of factors from human endothelial cells

BACKGROUND: Empirical observations have shown that ozonated autohemotherapy markedly improves the symptoms of chronic limb ischemia (muscular pain at rest, intermittent claudication, etc) in atherosclerotic patients, but mechanisms of action remain unclear. AIMS: Human endothelial cells (HUVECs) are known to release nitrogen monoxide (NO) and we investigated the biological effects of human ozonated serum on HUVECs in culture. METHODS: We assessed the relevance of peroxidation, the release of NO as nitrite and of three classical cytokines. RESULTS: The treatment of HUVECs with ozonated serum yields a dose dependent increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a decrease of protein thiol groups (PTG). Concomitantly, in comparison to either the control or the oxygenated sample, there is a significant and steady increase of nitric oxide (NO) production; this is markedly enhanced by the addition of L-arginine (20 microM) and inhibited in the presence of the NO inhibitor, L-NAME (20 mM). The main mediator of ozone action is H2O2 as it has been shown either after its direct measurement or by the addition of 20, 40 and 100 microM. Moreover, during 24 hours incubation we have investigated the production of endothelin 1 (ET-1), E-selectin and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and it appears that ozonation enhances IL-8, inhibits E-selectin and hardly modifies ET-1 production. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that reinfusion of ozonated blood, by enhancing release of NO, may induce vasodilation in ischemic areas and reduce hypoxia.     

MRI of arterial flow reserve in patients with intermittent claudication: feasibility and initial experience

Objectives

The aim of this work was to develop a MRI method to determine arterial flow reserve in patients with intermittent claudication and to investigate whether this method can discriminate between patients and healthy control subjects.

Methods

Ten consecutive patients with intermittent claudication and 10 healthy control subjects were included. All subjects underwent vector cardiography triggered quantitative 2D cine MR phase-contrast imaging to obtain flow waveforms of the popliteal artery at rest and during reactive hyperemia. Resting flow, maximum hyperemic flow and absolute flow reserve were determined and compared between the two groups by two independent MRI readers. Also, interreader reproducibility of flow measures was reported.

Results

Resting flow was lower in patients compared to controls (4.9±1.6 and 11.1±3.2 mL/s in patients and controls, respectively (p<0.01)). Maximum hyperemic flow was 7.3±2.9 and 16.4±3.2 mL/s (p<0.01) and the absolute flow reserve was 2.4±1.6 and 5.3±1.3 mL/s (p<0.01), respectively in patients and controls. The interreader coefficient of variation was below 10% for all measures in both patients and controls.

Conclusions

Quantitative 2D MR cine phase-contrast imaging is a promising method to determine flow reserve measures in patients with peripheral arterial disease and can be helpful to discriminate patients with intermittent claudication from healthy controls.     

Results of surgical and conservative treatment for multi-level atheromatous arterial occlusion of the lower limb after five years]

After 5 years of observation, materials of 239 patients treated operatively and 96 patients treated conservatively because of multisegmental arterial occlusion of lower limbs were obtained within the framework of multi-central programme of investigation. The results of the treatment with these methods have been evaluated according to the site of the atheromatous changes and the degree of ischemia of lower limbs. It has been ascertained, that after operative therapy, the percentage of good results and the percentage of death in the case of occlusion comprising the aorto-ilio-femoral segment is higher than in the case of occlusion of femoro-popliteal and peripheral segments, whereas in the case of conservative therapy, the situation is reverse. The results of therapy (operative and conservative) of multilevel arterial occlusion, in all kinds of location, depend upon blood supply in the limbs. The results are best (the highest percentage of good results and without improvement, the least number of amputation and death) in the II period of disease and they become worse when the degree of ischemia increases. It appears that the operative therapy is less effective than the conservative therapy in the case of atheromatous multilevel changes manifesting clinically in the form of intermittent claudication, whereas in the case of the IV degree of ischemia, only the operation can save the limb or even the patient's life.     

Peripheral gangrene in patients with severe falciparum malaria: report of 3 cases

Peripheral gangrene, characterized by distal ischemia of the extremities, is a rare complication in patients with falciparum malaria. Patients with this complication have generally undergone early amputation of the affected areas. In this report, we describe 3 adult Thai patients presented at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, with high grade of fever ranged 6-9 days, jaundice, acute renal failure, respiratory failure, alteration of consciousness and shock. Two patients had gangrene developed at the lower extremities on day 1 of hospitalization and 1 patient had gangrene developed on day 3. Blood smears revealed hyperparasitemia with Plasmodium falciparum. These patients were diagnosed as having severe malaria with peripheral gangrene. The resolution of gangrene was successfully achieved by treatment with artesunate and conservative treatment in 2 of 3 cases.     

Assessment of late results in surgical treatment of lower limb ischemia in obliterative atheromatosis of the femoral-popliteal region]

The results of treatment of arterial incompetence localized in femoro-popliteal region in the selected 14 centres have been assessed after 24 and 60 months. Eight hundred fifty five patients were operated in the selected centres during 12 months i.e. 50% of all patients operated for obliterative atheromatosis of the lower limbs. Perioperative mortality rate was 4%. During a 5-year follow up, 30% of patients died, and 15% did not return supplied questionnaire, and their fate is unknown. The limb was preserved in 70% of patients operated with any technique except the primary amputation. Markedly worse results were noted in patients operated for necrosis or resting pain and in patients who underwent surgery which did not directly improve blood flow in the affected limb. The authors conclude that the most favourable results are produced by the implantation of vascular prosthesis during the period of intermittent claudication distance shortening before the development of resting pain or necrosis. Such operation are loaded with the lowest rate of failures and complications.