Microcirculation and tolerability following i.v. infusion of PGE1 and iloprost: a randomized cross-over study in patients with critical limb ischemia.

In a randomized cross-over study, the effect of PGE(1) and iloprost on microcirculation as well as the tolerability was investigated in 36 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease stage III and IV according to Fontaine. Patients received PGE(1) and iloprost by single 3-h i.v.

[DRG-based cost analysis of inpatient conservative treatment of stage III/IV peripheral arterial occlusive disease].

Unlabelled: DRG-based cost analysis of inpatient conservative treatment of PAD stage III/IV BACKGROUND: In a prospective study carried out by the German Society of Angiology and the DRG Competence Center, Munich, the question was investigated whether the costs of conservative treatment of patients with PAOD stage III/IV (DRG F65) are adequately represented within the current G-DRG system. METHODS UND PATIENTS: Between September 1 and December 16, 2002, a total of 704 patients with DRG F65 (peripheral vascular diseases) were evaluated at 8 angiologic centers in Germany. Apart from the length of hospital stay, the total costs (cost equivalents) were calculated using a method developed by the DRG Research Group at the University of Münster.

Improvement of peripheral and cardiopulmonary performance after a short-term exercise program with additive prostaglandin E1.

In patients with intermittent claudication, the walking distance can be increased, both by means of several months of intensive training and administration of IV prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) for 4 weeks. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate whether the combination of intensive training and PGE1 infusions during pedalergometry can increase peripheral and cardiopulmonary performance after 2 weeks. Ten patients with intermittent claudication received a once-daily intravenous infusion of 60 microg PGE1 over 2 hours during pedalergometry.

Randomized reliability study evaluating constant-load and graded-exercise treadmill test for intermittent claudication.

The aim of this randomized study was to compare the reliability of the treadmill test at constant-load (C-test, 3 km/hr; fixed grade of 12%) recommended in Germany with that of the graded-exercise test (G-test, 3 km/hr; increase in grade of 3.5% every 3 minutes) propagated in the United States. In 50 patients with an absolute claudication distance (ACD) in the C-test of between 50 and 400 m, the two treadmill tests were carried out in randomized order on one and the same day, and repeated on 3 days within 1 week.

Effects of prostaglandin E1 metabolites on the induction of arterial thromboresistance.

Prostaglandin (PG) E1 has been shown to induce arterial thromboresistance in experimental animals and in man. It is known to be degraded in vivo to metabolites which have comparable (13,14-dihydro-PGE1) or no (15-keto-PGE1, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGE1) biological activity. It was the goal of this study to examine whether 13,14-dihydro-PGE1 and its derivatives might share biological activity in rendering the arterial wall less thrombogenic.