The effect of exogenous phosphocreatine on maximal walking distance, blood rheology, platelet aggregation, and fibrinolysis in patients with intermittent claudication.

Thirty-seven men with angiography or ultrasound confirmed peripheral arterial occlusive disease were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 24 patients treated with one daily infusion of 10 g of phosphocreatine in 200 ml of solvent for 10 days. Group 2 included 13 patients who were given 0.9% NaCl in the same scheme. Groups were comparable in: duration of intermittent claudication, maximal walking distance, Ketle index, cholesterol, triglycerides, frequency of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, smoking. Patients were examined 4 times: before starting, on second day, after treatment period, and 1 month after. Treadmill-test; ADP-, PAF-, 5-HT-induced platelet aggregation; D-dimer; PAI-1 activity; blood viscosity at high and low shear rate; hematocrit were performed. After treatment maximal walking distance significantly increased in patients of Group 1. Mechanisms of this effects include positive influence of phosphocreatine on platelet aggregation, blood rheology, coagulation and fibrinolytic systems.