Download PDF
Int J Angiol 1994; 3(1): 97-99
DOI: 10.1007/BF02014923
Original Articles

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prostaglandin E1 in critical limb ischemia transcutaneous PO2: A predictor of efficacy?

Thomas Weiss, Joachim Griesshaber, Waltraud Rogatti, Claudia Wilhelm, Curt Diehm, Wolfgang Kübler
  • Department of Cardiology/Angiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Presented at the 35th World Congress, International College of Angiology, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 1993
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 April 2011 (online)

  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has found a widespread use in treating patients with critical limb ischemia. Because therapy with PGE1 is time and cost intensive, a parameter for identifying nonresponders and consecutive therapy failures would be helpful. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2), before and after IV application of PGE1, in patients with critical limb ischemia as a predictor of efficacy.

Twenty patients with arterial occlusive disease stage IV according to Fontaine and a tcPO2 of less than 30 mmHg (dorsum of the foot) received one IV infusion of 40 μg PGE1 in 125 mL saline over thirty minutes. In 11 patients tcPO2 increased by more than 5 mmHg. These patients were classified as responders. Two patients revealing only a small increase in tcPO2, 5 patients with unchanged tcPO2, and 2 patients who showed a decrease in tcPO2 were considered as nonresponders. Only 2 patients among the responders had baseline tcPO2 values below 5 mmHg, whereas 6 of the nonresponders showed such low values. Three of the responder group had to undergo an operation in comparison to 6 of the nonresponders.

The increase in tcPO2 induced by IV infusion of PGE1 may have predictive value for the effectiveness of conservative treatment. Further validation is necessary.