title: Subcutaneous ancrod therapy in peripheral arterial disease: improvement in blood viscosity and nutritional blood flow.
abstract: Nine patients with extensive peripheral arterial disease were treated with subcutaneous injections of ancrod (Arvin) for 10 to 21 days. Reduction in plasma fibrinogen was associated with a sustained reduction in plasma and blood viscosity, and a sustained increase in nutritional skin blood flow, measured by a Xenon-133 clearance technique (P less than 0.001). These findings may be relevant to the therapeutic effect of ancrod in ischemic rest pain.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000721:Ancrod / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D000721:Ancrod