Subcutaneous ancrod therapy in peripheral arterial disease: improvement in blood viscosity and nutritional blood flow.

Nine patients with extensive peripheral arterial disease were treated with subcutaneous injections of ancrod (Arvin) for 10 to 21 days. Reduction in plasma fibrinogen was associated with a sustained reduction in plasma and blood viscosity, and a sustained increase in nutritional skin blood flow, measured by a Xenon-133 clearance technique (P less than 0.001). These findings may be relevant to the therapeutic effect of ancrod in ischemic rest pain.