title: Safety of vascular endothelial and hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy in patients with critical limb ischemia.
abstract: The present clinical trial analyzed the safety of gene therapy using plasmidial constructs expressing vascular endothelial and hepatocyte growth factors in patients with critical limb ischemia. The study included 43 patients: 29 in the treatment group and 14 allocated to the placebo group. The primary end points were the rate of major amputations and the clinical safety of the method. Secondary end points were improvement of pain at rest, walking ability and the ankle/brachial pressure index. The overall major amputation rate was 31.04% in the treatment group and 71.42% in the placebo group (p = 0.029). Pain at rest was improved in 65% of patients in the gene therapy group and in 7% in the placebo group (p = 0.0006). There were no significant adverse effects in the treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gene therapy with vascular endothelial and hepatocyte growth factors is therapeutically safe and reduces the rate of major amputations and relieves pain at rest in patients with critical limb ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara.
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anghel
authors.forename: Georgel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taranu
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seclaman
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rata
authors.forename: Liviu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamas
authors.forename: Horatiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ursoniu
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samoila
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ionac
authors.forename: Aurel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popa-Wagner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor