[Iso- and hypervolemic hemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch (HES 200/.05 10%) in patients with II b peripheral arterial occlusive disease].

The basic therapy in stage IIb of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) according to Fontaine is exercise. The aim of this study was to test whether (given initial physiological hematocrit values of 43 to 46%) a mild hypervolemic to isovolemic to hematocrit values of 40% with HES 200/0.5 10% or Ringer lactate in combination with exercise is even more favorable. In order to answer this question, 3 groups of 25 patients each were formed. One group exercised three times weekly and the second group, in addition to exercise, underwent a mild, hypervolemic to isovolemic 6-week dilution therapy with HES. In the final group the hematocrit value was reduced to the same extent by means of venesection and volume substitution with Ringer lactate. The walking distance increased in the HES group from 216 to 311 m (44%), in the Ringer lactate group from 214 to 258 m (20%), and in the exercise group from 213 to 242 m (14%). In comparison of the groups, the increase in pain-free walking distances in the HES group is found to differ significantly from those in the other groups. It was clearly demonstrated that hemodilution with HES in combination with exercise brings about a clinical effect of an order three times of that achieved by exercise alone. Venesection with subsequent administration of Ringer lactate and exercise is superior to exercise alone, but is markedly inferior to the combination therapy with HES.