title: Angiogenic growth factors in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains a major cause of morbidity. Despite advances in revascularisation procedures and medical treatment, limb salvage and relief of pain are still not satisfactory in patients with severe disease. This has prompted the exploration of alternative modes of treatment including enhancement of new vessel formation (angiogenesis). Angiogenic Growth Factors (AGF), mainly Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) have emerged as exciting therapeutic modalities. Both experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that topical (mainly intramuscular) AGF gene therapy results in improved peripheral vasculature and alleviation of symptoms. However, most clinical work is limited to small patient series and the long-term safety and efficacy are still unclear. Clinical benefit must be balanced against potential untoward effects, such as tumour growth and atherosclerotic plaque angiogenesis leading to plaque instability. VEGF is important in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular disease. Further studies are required before implementation of AGF therapy in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. dmikrou@med.duth.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mikroulis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bougioukas
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor