title: [Clinical study on treatment of atherosclerosis obliterans by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanism in treating atherosclerosis obliterans (ASO) with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (TCM-WM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The changes in level of vasoactive factors, such as endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), apoprotein and the iconographic changes in angiography before and after treatment were observed in 40 patients of ASO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had high levels of plasma ET and low level of NO, abnormal metabolism apoproteins, and showed the signs of trunk artery obstruction and marked decrease of collateral circulation in affected limb. After treatment, the plasma ET, NO and apoprotein levels recovered to normal range in 30 markedly effective cases, as compared with those before treatment, the difference was significant (P < 0.01) and their collateral circulation in the affected limb significantly increased, showing obvious improvement of peripheral circulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic mechanism of TCM-WM in treating ASO might be related with its effects on vascular endothelium, lipid metabolism adjustment, collateral circulation establishment and microcirculation improvement.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Department, First Teaching Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang (110001).
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001162:Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016232:Endothelins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000527:Alprostadil