title: Intravenous iloprost for treatment of critical limb ischemia in patients unsuitable for revascularization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether medical therapy alone may reduce the amputation rates in patients with chronic limb ischemia and who are unsuitable for revascularization is a controversial topic. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of 1 week infusion of iloprost in the treatment of patients with chronic limb ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven consecutive patients were included in the study. There were 23 men (85.2%) and 4 women (14.8%) with a mean age of 68.93 ± 14.84 years. Patients were considered eligible if they were unsuitable for surgical and endovascular revascularization. Follow-up was made on 10th day and 6th month and included ankle brachial index and clinical assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Minor side effects occurred in four patients (16.0%), but the treatment was continued. In-hospital mortality occurred in one patient (4.0%). Another two patients died and four patients received amputation until follow-up (overall mortality 11.1%). There was significant increase in mean ankle-brachial index values between 1st day and 10th day (p < 0.001), between 1st day and 6th month (p < 0.001), and between 10th day and 6th month (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One-week treatment with iloprost may provide both long lasting symptomatic benefit and may improve hemodynamic parameters, which were shown to predict future amputation.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Education Hospital, Turkey dnzcvr@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Çevirme
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Education Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eray
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Istanbul Bilgi, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yaşar Gökhan
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Gül
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Education Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Education Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Taylan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adademir
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Education Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Köksal
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Cerrahpaşa Medicine Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kürşat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016638:Critical Illness; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016285:Iloprost
keywords: Critical limb ischemia; iloprost; peripheral artery disease