[The effect of oral trapidil therapy on clinical and hemorheological parameters in arteriosclerosis obliterans in comparison to pentoxifylline--a pilot study].

20 male patients from 44 to 61 years of age with arteriosclerotic disturbances of the blood supply of the legs (stage II after Fontaine) were in the cross-over treated with 3 x 200 mg trapidil or 3 x 200 mg pentoxifylline daily. The duration of the therapy was in each case 6 weeks with a one-week elutriation phase. Statistically ascertained was an increase of the distance of intermittent claudication for the two drugs in patients with initial values lower than 550 m. On the other hand the tibio-brachial Doppler quotient and the submaximal blood supply established by the venous-occlusion plethysmography did not change. The post-ischaemic recovery phase of the transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure at the lower leg shortened in particular under the influence of trapidil. Lipid parameter, haematocrit, fibrinogen and plasma viscosity remained unchanged. The subjective tolerance of the two remedies was good.