Abstract
The clinical efficacy of a hemodialysate (HD)/ultrafiltrate of frozen calf blood administered
as a 20% intravenous infusion was evaluated in 138 hospitalized patients with intermittent
claudication due to peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD) (Fontaine II classification)
in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study comparing parallel groups
in five centers. The extent of improved pain-free walking distance (PFWD responders)
(58%) and maximal walking distance (MWD responders) (53%) in the HD-treated patients
was significantly greater than in the placebo-treated subjects (34% and 44% respectively).
There were no significant changes at any stage of the study in the ankle/arm pressure
ratio at rest and after standard treadmill exercise. These results confirm that there
is a favorable clinical response to HD in patients with PAOD stage II (Fontaine) with
no evidence of increase in blood flow.
