title: Effect of elastase on primary graft patency after femoralpopliteal arterial bypass for arteriosclerosis obliterans: a randomized, controlled study.
abstract: METHODS
  Studies were carried out on 104 limbs with femoralpopliteal bypasses for arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO). They were randomized to a group receiving elastase (10800 EL. U. P.O. per day) with an antiplatelet drug (Elastase group, 58 patients) or a group receiving only the antiplatelet drug (Control group, 46 patients). The follow-up period ranged from 24 to 36 months after operation at 22 institutions across Japan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cumulative graft patency rate was higher in the Elastase group than the Control group, but the difference lacked statistical significance. When autogenous saphenous veins were used, the cumulative graft patency rate was significantly higher in the Elastase group than the Control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that elastase is effective in maintaining graft patency in femoralpopliteal arterial bypass when an autogenous saphenous vein is used as a graft.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esato
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zempo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001162:Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase