The effect of Liple on physical and emotional quality of life in the treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of treatment with prostaglandin E1, Liple, on both the physical and emotional health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).


METHODS
Treatment with Liple was evaluated using the before and after treatment results obtained using the SF-36, a QOL questionnaire, and an assessment of symptoms by a physician. The study was designed as a non-randomized before and after treatment study without comparison groups, and the study was conducted from May 1999 to July 2001 at 473 facilities located within Japan targeting patients with ASO. No intervention other than the administration of Liple was performed, and no restrictions were placed on the dose amount or administration interval for Liple.


RESULTS
The results suggest that there was a significant improvement in patients' symptoms after treatment with Liple.


CONCLUSIONS
Both physical and emotional QOL also improved after administration of Liple compared to baseline, based on the results of the SF-36 and assessment of symptoms by a physician.
Fukuhara
S
S
Department of Epidemiology and Healthcare Research, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan. Fukuhara@pbh.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Esato
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001162:Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D000527:Alprostadil