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At least 1,747 records · Page 97Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Reconstructive surgery on the femoro-popliteal segment in combination with lumbar sympathectomy].

Long-term results of 660 reconstructive surgeries on the arteries of the femoro-popliteal segment performed from 1975 to 2002 are analyzed. Two hundred and twenty-eight (34.5%) of them were combined with lumbar sympathectomy (LSE) on the affected side. It was demonstrated that LSE influences outcomes of reconstructions on the femoro-popliteal segment. This influence depends on a primary degree of leg ischemia. At the stage of intermittent claudication LSE permits to improve patency of the femoro-popliteal segment, salvage of the leg, to decrease the rate of postoperative complications due to reduction of thrombosis and purulation rates. The rate of cardiovascular complications increases. In critical limb ischemia effect of LSE is opposite. It increases the rate of repeated occlusions and amputations compared with reconstructive surgeries without LSE. The rate of postoperative complications also increased due to thrombosis and cardiovascular complications. It is concluded that LSE is the factor improving outcomes of reconstructive surgery on the femoro-popliteal segment, but it must be used differentially. It is necessary to perform LSE during all reconstructive surgeries in patients with intermittent claudication and without serious cardiovascular diseases. In critical limb ischemia and serious concomitant cardiovascular diseases LSE must be avoided.

Femoral Artery↗
PubMed1993

[Arteriosclerosis obliterans that was improved by LDL apheresis].

We reported here a case of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) in which clinical symptoms and signs were improved after repeated LDL apheresis. The patient was a 70-year-old man who was diagnosed as having ASO in 1989. Although drug treatment started for the arterial disease, such clinical manifestations as rubor and intermittent claudication were gradually worsening. In 1991, the patient was also found to have diabetes mellitus (DM), leading to admission for its treatment. Insulin therapy was initially required, but it finally became possible to maintain a good control of DM with diet therapy alone. Since hypercholesterolemia (402 mg/dl) was noted on admission, we began to give the patient pravastatin. In response to the medication, serum total cholesterol (TC) levels declined to 270 mg/dl, but no further improvement was obtained. We therefore decided to perform LDL apheresis on the patient, hoping the improvement of both ASO and hypercholesterolemia. After six series of LDL apheresis were performed during 4 weeks, ASO-related signs and symptoms (i. e., intermittent claudication) were remarkably improved, and serum TC levels were decreased below 200 mg/dl. Our experience in the present case suggested that this procedure would be useful as an effective choice of treatment for ASO, but further studies as to the indication and protocol of this therapeutic maneuver will be clearly needed.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Prediction of perioperative cardiac complications by electrocardiographic monitoring during treadmill exercise testing before peripheral vascular surgery.

ECG monitoring during treadmill exercise testing was performed in a prospective series of 105 consecutive patients with intermittent claudication scheduled for peripheral vascular surgery. ECG monitoring during the exercise test was useful in predicting perioperative cardiac complications. In 55 patients with evidence of coronary artery disease by history and ECG obtained at rest, a strong association (p less than 0.001) between an ischemic response to exercise testing and the occurrence of perioperative cardiac events was observed. ECG monitoring during the exercise test also revealed previously unsuspected ischemia or arrhythmias in six of the remaining 50 patients and predicted perioperative cardiac problems in four of these six. An ischemic response to low-level treadmill exercise testing probably indicates advanced coronary artery disease and offers valuable predictive information when a revascularization procedure is considered for the relief of intermittent claudication.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1988

New drug therapy in peripheral vascular disease.

New drug therapy for peripheral vascular disease includes the use of nifedipine or sympathetic blocking agents for Raynaud's phenomenon and the use of lower doses of warfarin to prevent recurrence of thromboembolic disease. In prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis, minidose heparin with or without dihydroergotamine and pneumatic boots are effective. Exercise regimens and the cessation of smoking remain the best therapy for intermittent claudication.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of absolute risk of death after myocardial infarction by use of multiple-risk-factor assessment equations: GISSI-Prevenzione mortality risk chart.

AIMS: To present and discuss a comprehensive and ready to use prediction model of risk of death after myocardial infarction based on the very recently concluded follow-up of the large GISSI-Prevenzione cohort and on the integrated evaluation of different categories of risk factors: those that are non-modifiable, and those related to lifestyles, co-morbidity, background, and other conventional clinical complications produced by the index myocardial infarction. METHODS: The 11-324 men and women recruited in the study within 3 months from their index myocardial infarction have been followed-up to 4 years. The following risk factors have been used in a Cox proportional hazards model: non-modifiable risk factors: age and sex; complications after myocardial infarction: indicators of left ventricular dysfunction (signs or symptoms of acute left ventricular failure during hospitalization, ejection fraction, NYHA class and extent of ventricular asynergy at echocardiography), indicators of electrical instability (number of premature ventricular beats per hour, sustained or repetitive arrhythmias during 24-h Holter monitoring), indicators of residual ischaemia (spontaneous angina pectoris after myocardial infarction, Canadian Angina Classification class, and exercise testing results); cardiovascular risk factors: smoking habits, history of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, leukocytes count, intermittent claudication, and heart rate. Multiple regression modelling was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Generalizability of the models was assessed through cross validation and bootstrapping techniques. POPULATION AND RESULTS: During the 4 years of follow-up, a total of 1071 patients died. Age and left ventricular dysfunction were the most relevant predictors of death. Because of pharmacological treatments, total blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure values were not significantly associated with prognosis. Sex-specific prediction equations were formulated to predict risk of death according to age, simple indicators of left ventricular dysfunction, electrical instability, and residual ischaemia along with the following cardiovascular risk factors: smoking habits, history of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, blood HDL cholesterol, fibrinogen, leukocyte count, intermittent claudication, and heart rate. The predictive models produced on the basis of information available in the routine conditions of clinical care after myocardial infarction provide ready to use and highly discriminant criteria to guide secondary prevention strategies. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Besides documenting what should be the preferred and practicable focus of clinical attention for today's patients, the experience of GISSI-Prevenzione suggests that periodically and prospectively collected databases on naturalistic' cohorts could be an important option for updating and verifying the impact of guidelines, which should incorporate the different components of the complex profile of cardiovascular risk. The GISSI Prevenzione risk function is a simple tool to predict risk of death and to improve clinical management of subjects with recent myocardial infarction. The use of predictive risk algorithms can favour the shift from medical logic, based on the treatment of single risk factors, to one centred on the patient as a whole as well as the tailoring of medical interventions according to patients' overall risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Case of MPO-ANCA positive interstitial pneumonitis and necrotizing, crescentic glomerulonephritis].

A 52-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in July 1995, because of intermittent claudication, paresthesia on foot and gross hematuria. Chest radiograph in 1988 revealed bilateral interstitial shadows and proteinuria had been pointed out since 1992. On admission, chest X-ray and computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial shadow, however it had not been changed for several years. Laboratory tests revealed elevated level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, immunoglobulin, rheumatoid factor, IgG-rheumatoid factor, and immune complex. Serum MPO-ANCA were positive. Although serum creatinine level and renal function test were normal, renal biopsy demonstrated crescentic formation and necrotizing vasculitis. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy demonstrated no remarkable deposit in glomerulus. A diagnosis of microscopic polyarteritis necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN) was made. Treatment was initiated with 30 mg of prednisolone, followed by marked improvement of intermittent claudication, and decreased titer of serum MPO-ANCA. Previous reports have demonstrated the association of MPO-ANCA with rapidly progressive NCGN, microscopic polyarteritis, and occasionally pulmonary hemorrhage recognized as pulmonary-renal syndrome. However, the present case suggests the possibility that another disease subset may also be associated with MPO-ANCA, which is characterized by interstitial pneumonitis and slowly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed2001

Antiplatelet agent cilostazol potentiates adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.

Cilostazol is an antiplatelet drug, which has beneficial effects in treatment of intermittent claudication and decreases serum triacyiglycerol level in these patients. In this study, we examined adipogenic potency of cilostazol using 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line because cilostazol is one of the tissue specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Addition of cilostazol into the differentiation medium including insulin and dexamethasone, induced the adipocyte differentiation without isobutyl methylxanthine (IBMX). Compared with the cells incubated with vehicle, the cells treated with cilostazol contain much more lipid droplets in the cells 6 days after induction of differentiation. Adipocyte specific gene like stearoyl-CoA desaturase was strongly induced after addition of cilostazol. C/EBPbeta, which is induced by IBMX was also induced by cilostazol. These findings suggest a possibility that adipogenic effect of cilostazol is one of the mechanisms, by which this agent decreases blood triacylglycerol level in the intermittent claudication patients.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1998

[Quality of life of patient with peripheral arterial obliterative disease treated with ifenprodil tartrate. Results of an ARTEMIS study].

A clinical trial was performed to assess the effects on quality of life of a treatment (ifenprodil tartrate 20 mg, 3 times daily for one year) in patients suffering from peripheral arterial obliterative disease of the lower extremities with intermittent claudication. A specific questionnaire--ARTEMIS--was used to evaluate quality of life. The study enabled the responsiveness over time of the ARTEMIS questionnaire to be checked. During this open, prospective, multicentre study, patients requiring treatment for peripheral arterial disease of the lower extremities and recruited by angiologists and general practitioners filled in the complete or short form of the ARTEMIS questionnaire, respectively, at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. 4821 patients were recruited. 4494 questionnaires were analysed (169 from the angiologist group and 4325 from the general practitioner group). The majority of the patients (mean age 67 years) were men (70%), either former or current smokers (68%), with high blood pressure (54%), hyperlipidaemia (48%) and type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (16%), and with a 3-year history of intermittent claudication (+/- 3.5) on average. Quality-of-life scores improved (as from month 3) between baseline and month 12. This progression was significant for all dimensions of the reduced questionnaire (p < or = 0.0001) and for 12 of the 15 dimensions of the complete version. These quality-of-life results should be measured against the global clinical improvement, which was rated as good by the investigators (70% of cases). Treatment tolerability was assessed for the 4821 patients recruited and was judged satisfactory. The number and type of serious events and recorded deaths corresponded to events commonly observed in this elderly population. These results show how the ARTEMIS quality-of-life scales can be used in community practice during symptomatic treatment with a vasoactive agent such as ifenprodil, to assess quality-of-life improvements in patients suffering from stage II peripheral arterial disease of the lower extremities.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Subintimal angioplasty as a treatment of femoropopliteal artery occlusions.

OBJECTIVES: to report the results of subintimal PTA of femoropopliteal occlusions above the knee. DESIGN: a retrospective study. PATIENTS: in the period from January 1997 to January 2002, 109 patients were submitted to 124 interventions. The indication for treatment was intermittent claudication in 78 cases and critical ischaemia in 46. METHODS: all cases of subintimal angioplasty were prospectively registered. A review of all cases treated with subintimal PTA for above-knee femoropopliteal occlusions were done. Primary assisted haemodynamic patency rate was calculated on intention to treat basis and for successfully treated cases. Comparison of patency with respect to comorbidities, indication, runoff and occlusion length was done with univariate and multivariate analysis (Cox' regression). RESULTS: technical success rate was 90%. Primary assisted patency rates at 6, 12 and 18 months were 43, 37 and 31% calculated on basis of intention to treat and 48, 42 and 35% for successfully treated cases. Diabetes mellitus and critical ischaemia were found to be independent risk factors for re-occlusion. CONCLUSION: subintimal angioplasty is an alternative to open surgery for patients with femoropopliteal occlusions and intermittent claudication. The treatment is relatively atraumatic, complications are rare and in most cases treated with endovascular techniques. Patency rates are low. In cases of critical ischaemia, time can be important for outcome with respect to limb salvage. We therefore find that the poor patency rates of subintimal angioplasty of femoropopliteal occlusions contraindicate its use in the treatment of critical ischaemia with exception of cases unsuitable for surgical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Inflammatory markers and IL-6 polymorphism in peripheral arterial disease with and without diabetes mellitus.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis, recognized as an inflammatory disease of the vessel wall, probably accelerated by diabetes mellitus (DM). Elevated interleukin (IL)-6 levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and a common polymorphism has been identified in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate inflammatory mediators in PAD patients (+/- DM) and to investigate a possible relationship to the IL-6 gene polymorphism. Five groups of patients (DM, intermittent claudication +/- DM, critical limb ischemia (CLI) +/- DM) and a control group of 20 individuals each were included. Hemoglobin, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), creatinine, blood lipids, white blood cells (WBC); CD11b/CD18; vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1), sE-selectin, sP-selectin; IL-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, sTNFalpha-R1 and sTNFalpha-R2 were analysed. The IL-6 gene polymorphism was determined in all groups and also compared with 200 healthy controls from a larger study of blood donors. In a multiple regression analysis, adjusted for gender, smoking and age, the effect of CLI was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with elevated levels of the WBC count, hsCRP, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFalpha-R1-2) and endothelial (sICAM, sVCAM) and WBC (CD11b gran) markers. The effect of less advanced PAD (intermittent claudication) was related to an increased concentration of sVCAM-1 and the number of monocytes and granulocytes. DM or leg ulcers were not significantly related to any of the markers. No significant difference in frequency of the various IL-6 genotypes was found between the groups or when compared with the group of 200 blood donors (p> 0.3). Activation of cytokines, endothelial cells and WBC was related to the Fontaine stage of PAD but not to the presence of DM or ulcers. No association was found between the polymorphism in the IL-6 promoter region and PAD.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

The prevalence of asymptomatic arterial obstruction in the lower extremities among men and women 60 to 69 years of age.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic arterial obstruction in the lower extremities in men and women 60 to 69 years of age. METHODS: A sample of 333 participants between 60 to 69 years of age attended a physical examination as part of a population based health study in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway (the HUNT Study). The total prevalence of arterial obstruction was defined as the proportion of subjects with ankle brachial pressure index lower than 0.9 (ABPI<0.9). Further, the proportion of participants with arterial obstruction who also reported symptoms of intermittent claudication was defined as having symptomatic arterial obstruction. Finally, the prevalence of asymptomatic arterial obstruction was calculated as the difference between the total prevalence of arterial obstruction and the prevalence of symptomatic arterial obstruction. RESULTS: The total prevalence of arterial obstruction as defined by ABPI<0.9 was 7.8%. The prevalence was slightly higher among men (9.2%) than among women (6.9%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p-value=0.5). The prevalence of asymptomatic arterial obstruction was 6.3%, indicating that asymptomatic disease was approximately 4 times as frequent as symptomatic arterial obstruction (1.5%). The prevalence of asymptomatic arterial obstruction was nearly identical for men (6.2%) and women (6.4%). CONCLUSION: The total prevalence of arterial obstruction as defined by an ABPI<0.9 was 7.8% in this age group, and the prevalence of asymptomatic disease was 6.3%. Thus, only 1 in 5 persons who had objectively measured arterial obstruction indicated symptoms of intermittent claudication.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antithrombotic drugs in peripheral obliterative arterial diseases.

In the natural history of patients with peripheral obliterative arterial disease (POAD) the prognosis of the complaint "intermittent claudication" is relatively good and the amputation rate is presently only about 3%. However, POAD patients carry a high risk of cardiovascular events and their cumultative mortality rate within 10 years is as high as 40-50%. Atherothrombotic events in the coronary and, less frequently, cerebral arteries are by far the first cause of death and disability in these patients. The rationale for antithrombotic drugs in the treatment of POAD lies in the pivotal role of platelet activation and thrombin formation in the evolution of the atherothrombotic lesions, but also in the effect of some of these drugs on the regulation of microcirculatory responses. In acute thrombotic arterial occlusion, Heparin is the "first application" drug, especially in support of interventional revascularisation procedures. Regional thrombolysis often coupled with angioplasty (PTA), or systemic thrombolysis, are effective in revascularisation of especially infrainguinal-supra popliteal occlusions. However, controlled clinical trials are needed. In chronic POAD, intermittent claudication can be improved with a rational walking exercise programme, but, besides pentoxyphilline, especially ticlopidine significantly adds to the benefits of exercise. Regarding districtual progression of atherothrombosis and especially cardiovascular events, both aspirin and ticlopidine have been shown effective in single studies or meta-analyses. In a recent observational study of pooled data the cumulative endpoint including myocardial infarction, stroke and vascular death was reduced by 25 +/- 10% in the generality of patients treated with antiplatelet drugs. Finally, in critical limbs ischemia (CLI), some prostanoid compounds as Iloprost and Prostaglandin E1 favourably influence rest pain and ulcer healing, but less evidence is available on their effects on hard events as amputation and death. In conclusion, following the general indication to "be conservative" in the treatment of these patients, it seems clear that antithrombotic drugs have become by far a key medication in all different phases of POAD.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1991

[Results of the treatment of patients with Leriche's syndrome and ulcerous-necrotic foot changes].

A comparative analysis of two groups of patients with Leriche's syndrome was conducted: 88 patients suffered only from intermittent claudication (stage III of the disease), while 128 patients had pyo-necrotic changes on the feet (stage IV). All patients were subjected to revascularization of the ischemic extremities by restorative operations with the use of a synthetic prosthesis. The necrotic lesions of the feet were encountered mostly in patients with a combined affection. Due to the severe condition of the patients, however, one-stage operations on the ++aorto-popliteal and femoropopliteal segments were not undertaken. An aortic deep femoral shunt was formed, but if ischemia of rest was maintained reconstruction in the femoropopliteal segment was performed in a second stage. Comparative analysis of the immediate and late-term results in patients of these two groups was conducted. It is shown that the operative risk is higher in stage IV than in stage III. But operations in patients with necrotic changes can be considered well grounded because the late-term results (preservation of the extremity, frequency of deep suppurations) hardly differ from those in patients with intermittent claudication.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Determinants of peak V(O2) in peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients.

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) patients with intermittent claudication are functionally limited and deconditioned. This study examined whether peak aerobic capacity (V(O2) peak) was associated with PAOD severity, muscle mass, and comorbidities in 109 PAOD patients (93 men and 16 women) aged 48-86 years. The V(O2) peak (1.12+/-0.34 L/min), percentage body fat (30.6+/-8.3%), lean tissue mass of the total body (51.4+/-8.4 kg), lean tissue mass of the legs (16.6+/-3.0 kg), and appendicular skeletal mass (22.8+/-4.2 kg) were determined. The lean tissue mass of the total body (r = .44), lean tissue of the legs (r = .43) and resting ankle/brachial systolic pressure index (ABI; r = .41) correlated with peak V(O2) (all p < .001). None of the comorbidity variables (obesity, arthritis, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking history) were significantly associated with peak V(O2) except smoking status. The final model for the prediction of peak V(O2) included lean tissue mass of the legs, resting ABI, smoking status, and ABI x smoking status (r2 = .37,p < .001). In older patients with intermittent claudication, lean tissue mass is an important determinant of physical performance independent of PAOD severity and smoking status. Prevention of muscle atrophy may preserve ambulatory function and peak exercise capacity in older PAOD patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Is the generally accepted therapeutic benefit of exercise training in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease evidence based? Analysis of the Cochrane review].

When assessing the quality of clinical trials in intermittent claudication, on principle the same strict biometric and medical standards need to be applied for studies on the effect of walking exercise as for conservative drug treatment studies. However, as demonstrated by a recent review of the Cochrane Collaboration, this is apparently not always the case. The review included ten randomized controlled studies published between 1966 and 1997 with a total of 258 patients. The exercise regimes varied considerably between studies with regard to mode, intensity, frequency, duration and supervision, just as the treadmill tests employed to measure walking distance and walking time, respectively (primary endpoint). None of these studies used a confirmatory approach, and they all have a number of further methodological flaws when taking current biometric and medical guidelines into account. Also unmentioned in the abstract remains the important fact that, owing to missing data, finally only 53 patients from three studies could be pooled for the actual meta-analysis. All in all, the Cochrane review under discussion here is hardly suitable to scientifically prove the generally accepted efficacy of walking exercise in intermittent claudication. At the same time, it becomes clear that even publications of well-reputed institutions such as the Cochrane Collaboration should always be critically scrutinized. On the other hand, applying modern guidance for investigation under the aspect of evidence based medicine must not lead to a retrospective discrimination of accepted historical scientific data and thereby call into question proven therapeutic strategies.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association between physical activity and endogenous fibrinolysis in peripheral arterial disease: a cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether daily physical activity was independently related to endogenous fibrinolysis in subjects with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). One hundred and six subjects with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication were characterized on the activity level of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, the activator of fibrinolysis), the activity level of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1, the inhibitor of fibrinolysis), daily physical activity, ambulatory function, and demographic information. Subjects were separated into low (n = 36), moderate (n = 34), and high (n = 36) physical activity tertiles based on a 48-hour monitoring period with use of an accelerometer. The tPA activity of the low physical activity group (1.30 +/- 0.16 IU/mL) was 21% and 19% lower (p<0.05) than that of the moderate (1.65 +/- 0.18 IU/mL) and the high (1.61 +/- 0.15 IU/mL) physical activity groups, respectively. The PAI-1 activity of the low physical activity group (21.41 +/- 1.14 AU/mL) was 15% and 23% higher than that of the moderate (18.61 +/- 1.34 AU/mL) and the high (17.47 +/- 1.14 AU/mL) physical activity groups, respectively. Group differences in tPA activity and PAI-1 activity persisted after our controlling for group differences in measured and self-reported ambulatory measures. Daily physical activity is related to a more favorable endogenous fibrinolytic profile in PAD subjects with intermittent claudication. Subjects who expend fewer than 175 kcal/day in physical activities (approximately 35 minutes) are particularly susceptible to having a prothrombotic state. Subjects should be encouraged to participate in at least 35 minutes of physical activity each day to enhance fibrinolysis.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

START Trial: a pilot study on STimulation of ARTeriogenesis using subcutaneous application of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as a new treatment for peripheral vascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was recently shown to increase collateral flow index in patients with coronary artery disease. Experimental models showed beneficial effects of GM-CSF on collateral artery growth in the peripheral circulation. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of GM-CSF in patients with peripheral artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed in 40 patients with moderate or severe intermittent claudication. Patients were treated with placebo or subcutaneously applied GM-CSF (10 microg/kg) for a period of 14 days (total of 7 injections). GM-CSF treatment led to a strong increase in total white blood cell count and C-reactive protein. Monocyte fraction initially increased but thereafter decreased significantly as compared with baseline. Both the placebo group and the treatment group showed a significant increase in walking distance at day 14 (placebo: 127+/-67 versus 184+/-87 meters, P=0.03, GM-CSF: 126+/-66 versus 189+/-141 meters, P=0.04) and at day 90. Change in walking time, the primary end point of the study, was not different between groups. No change in ankle-brachial index was found on GM-CSF treatment at day 14 or at day 90. Laser Doppler flowmetry measurements showed a significant decrease in microcirculatory flow reserve in the control group (P=0.03) and no change in the GM-CSF group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study does not support the use of GM-CSF for treatment of patients with moderate or severe intermittent claudication. Issues that need to be addressed are dosing, the selection of patients, and potential differences between GM-CSF effects in the coronary and the peripheral circulation.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1996

Mortality and morbidity during a period of 2 years after coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with and without a history of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To describe mortality and morbidity during a period of 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to a history of hypertension. PATIENTS: All patients in western Sweden in whom CABG was undertaken between June 1988 and June 1991 and in whom simultaneous valve surgery was not performed were included in the study. DESIGN: A prospective 2-year follow-up study. RESULTS: Patients with a history of hypertension (n = 777) differed from patients without such a history (n = 1348) in that the proportion of women was higher, they were older and more frequently had a history of congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, cerebro-vascular disease, intermittent claudication and obesity, and the number of smokers and patients with previous CABG was lower. They were also more likely to develop post-operative cerebrovascular complications and signs of myocardia damage. Patients with hypertension tended to have increased mortality during the first 30 days after CABG and the late mortality (between day 30 and 2 years) was significantly higher than in non-hypertensive participants. Whereas the development of myocardial infarction was similar in both groups, the hypertensive study participants more frequently developed stroke during 2 years of follow-up. In a multivariate analysis including age, sex, history of different cardiovascular diseases, smoking, ejection fraction, and the occurrence of three-vessel disease, hypertension did not emerge as an independent predictor of death in the early or late phase or during a total of 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Among CABG patients, those with a history of hypertension have a different pattern of risk factors. They have a higher mean age, include a higher proportion of women and have a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, cerebro-vascular disease, intermittent claudication, and obesity. They also have an increased frequency of immediate post-operative complications and an increased 2-year mortality, even if a history of hypertension was not an independent predictor of death during 2 years of follow-up.

Blood Pressure↗