Clinical efficacy of IV prostaglandin E₁ and IV pentoxifylline in patients with arterial occlusive disease of fontaine stage IIb: A multicenter, randomized comparative study

Abstract

The IV infusions of both prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) and pentoxifylline showed good efficacy in prolonging the claudication distance and maximum walking range of patients with intermittent claudication, and the Doppler pressures were used as parameters of efficacy. IV PGE₁ was significantly superior after 4 weeks' therapy as to both claudication distance and maximum walking range. The ankle pressure indices were significantly elevated in both groups at the end of therapy. The therapeutic effect proved to persist in both groups after a 12 month follow-up, with adverse reactions occurring in two patients treated with PGE₁ and in six patients treated with pentoxifylline. The study supports the view that the intravenous infusion of PGE₁ is an efficacious and well-tolerated therapy for intermittent claudication.