title: [Effectiveness of pentoxifylline and of bio-electromagnetic therapy in lower limb obliterative arterial disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are limited therapeutic options to improve microcirculation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The question of the study was to investigate any potential beneficial effect of bio-electro-magnetic-regulation therapy on microcirculation in patients suffering from obliterative peripheral arterial disease including the circulation of lower extremities, as well as intermittent claudication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients suffering from obliterative peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine IIa and IIb) were recruited. The first step of the study was to determine the pain free and maximal walking distance with a treadmill unit. After the placebo period patients received 8 and 20 minutes bio-electro-magnetic-regulation treatment 16 times. After the treatment the pain free and maximal walking distance were measured again. In the second stage of the study the patients were treated by pentoxifylline infusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bio-electro-magnetic-regulation treatment increased the pain free period by 57.4% (p = 0.005) and the maximal walking distance by 36.6% (p = 0.042). The two forms of therapy together increased the pain free and maximal walking distance by 81.9% and by 84.0%, respectively. The combined therapy was very effective in contrast to placebo and bio-electro-magnetic-regulation treatment (p = 0.000373 and p = 0.00741, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bio-electro-magnetic-regulation therapy mainly affected the microvessels and pentoxifylline therapy rather had beneficial effects on hemorheology. The clinical effectiveness of combined therapy was good or excellent in 70% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Magyar Honvédség Egészségügyi Központ, Honvédkórház I. Belgyógyászat, Angiológia Budapest Róbert Károly krt. 44. 1134.
authors.forename: Sándor Iván
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Bernát
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001162:Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline
keywords: alsó végtagi obliteratív érbetegség; bio-electro-magnetic-regulation; bioelektomágnes-reguláció; microcirculation; pentoxifillin; pentoxifylline; peripheral arterial disease