title: Efficacy, safety and feasibility of intravenous iloprost in the domiciliary treatment of patients with ischemic disease of the lower limbs.
abstract: Intravenous iloprost is an important option in the treatment of ischemic disease of the lower limbs; however, the administration of therapy is frequently compromised because of the need for long cycles of infusion in a hospital setting. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, feasibility, and the economic impact of infusion therapy in the outpatient setting.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four consecutive patients were treated with iloprost at their homes where they were administered a slow rate of infusion for 24 hours a day, during 9.9 ± 2.3 days, with a portable syringe pump (Infonde®).
  
  
  
  The clinical condition of patients evaluated with the modified SVS/ISCVS scale significantly improved after treatment (+1.29 ± 1.04 points vs. baseline, p<0.001). The drug was well tolerated; neither significant adverse events associated with medication nor problems related to venous access were recorded at home. Ninety-six percent of patients successfully completed the entire treatment cycle, and the evaluation questionnaire showed a high acceptance of the therapy. From the perspective of the hospital authority, lower direct medical costs were estimated for the domiciliary infusion process compared with the inpatient infusion setting.
  
  
  
  Treatment with iloprost in the outpatient setting is effective, safe, feasible, and more acceptable to patients than infusion at the hospital. In addition, it has a favorable economic and organizational impact on the medical ward.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, USL Centro Toscana, Florence, Italy. afarina@italfarmaco.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polignano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baggiore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Falciani
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Restelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michelagnoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panigada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landini
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008875:Middle Aged; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016285:Iloprost