[Short- and long-term evaluation of treatment of critical ischemia of the lower lim with PGE1 (alprostadyl alpha-cyclodestrine)].

Twenty-five patients affected by chronic lower limb obliterating arteriopathy with critical ischemia in one limb were treated with PGE1 for 4 weeks and then followed-up for one year. On day 14 of treatment three groups of patients were selected on the basis of clinical symptoms and instrumental tests; patients were subdivided into Responders, Partial Responders and Non-Responders. The results obtained were satisfactory in view of the fact that the selection into three groups enabled Partial Responders to be reclassified, in some cases by repeating the treatment cycle.