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Neurogenic intermittent claudication in association with spondylolisthesis.

In the last three decades, more attention has been put upon neurogenic intermittent claudication, also called pseudoclaudication. The syndrome usually develops in patients with congenital narrow spinal canal and secondary additional narrowing. Two cases of spondylolisthesis with neurogenic intermittent claudication are presented. The pathogenesis, symptoms and findings of neurogenic intermittent claudication are discussed.

Female

Phenol sympathectomy in the treatment of intermittent claudication: a controlled clinical trail.

Twenty-five patients with intermittent claudication were randomly allocated to treatment either by injection of phenol into the lumbar sympathetic chain or by injection of local anaesthetic subcutaneously. On the day after the injection, sympathectomy, assessed by skin temperature change, was achieved in 85 per cent of the phenol group. At 1 month subjective improvement was claimed by 45 per cent of the patients in the sympathectomized group and by 64 per cent in the control group; at 3 months the figures were 25 and 45 per cent respectively. Treadmill testing at two exercise loads showed no significant difference in claudication distance or stopping time between the two groups. Calf blood pressure response following exercise was not affected by sympathectomy. There is no subjective or objective evidence that phenol sympathectomy improves intermittent claudication.

Blood Pressure

Intermittent claudication in a professional rugby player.

Intermittent claudication in a professional rugby player is described. The typical features of a delayed and difficult diagnosis of an external iliac artery stenosis were found. The noninvasive diagnostic protocol used to investigate this young patient with a minimal arterial lesion enabled accurate localization and angioplasty to be performed at the same time as diagnostic angiography. The patient was symptom free with normal arterial pressures on follow-up. It is suggested that appropriate noninvasive investigations should be performed before angiography in young people with minimal lesions.

Adult

Beta-adrenergic blocker therapy does not worsen intermittent claudication in subjects with peripheral arterial disease. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Beta-Adrenergic blockers have been considered relatively contraindicated in peripheral arterial disease because of the perceived risk that these drugs could worsen intermittent claudication. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials from the English-language literature to determine whether or not beta-blockers exacerbate intermittent claudication. The primary focus of this analysis was the effect of beta-blockers on exercise duration, measured as walking capacity or endurance time. Outcomes were pooled where appropriate. Of 11 eligible reports, six included 11 individual controlled treatment comparisons that provided data for an analysis of pain-free exercise capacity; no effect size was statistically significant. The pooled effect size for pain-free walking distance was -0.24 (95% confidence interval, -0.62 to 0.14), indicating no significant impairment of walking capacity compared with placebo. Only one study reported that certain beta-blockers were associated with worsening of intermittent claudication. These results strongly suggest that beta-blockers do not adversely affect walking capacity or symptoms of intermittent claudication in patients with mild to moderate peripheral arterial disease. In the absence of other contraindications, beta-blockers can probably be used safely in such patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

[Intermittent claudication of the legs: what can be obtained without pharmacologic agents].

Intermittent claudication of the lower limbs is treated routinely by either drugs, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, surgery or a combination of these. Each of these therapeutic approaches carries a certain risk; side effects can develop. Moreover, often there is a lack of well controlled studies to evaluate the objective basis of the results. Therefore, in the present paper, evolution of walking distance in patients presenting with intermittent claudication was followed during non-pharmacological treatment mainly consisting of daily muscle training and avoiding to use nicotine.

Chronic Disease

Intermittent claudication caused by atherosclerosis in patients aged forty years and younger.

Intermittent claudication may represent a severe limitation in daily life-style for young, active patients and may result in loss of professional career for members of the armed forces. Our recent experience with young patients with atherosclerotic claudication was reviewed to determine whether more liberal use of angioplasty and surgery is warranted in these patients to salvage their military careers and improve their life-styles. A systemic review was made of patients aged 40 years and younger with atherosclerosis who have undergone arteriography at our institution during the past 67 months. From this study, 22 patients were found with the initial complaint of intermittent claudication. Fifteen of these patients (68%) had occlusive disease confined to the iliac arteries, and six (27%) had single-level occlusive disease in a femoropopliteal distribution. Only one patient had multilevel disease. Symptoms of coronary occlusive disease developed in five patients (23%) within 38 months of the onset of claudication, and two of these patients died of myocardial infarctions. Of 19 patients who underwent interventions to correct symptoms of claudication, 16 (85%) had complete relief of symptoms at the end of follow-up, ranging from 6 months to 7 years. Ten of these patients remained symptom free after a single intervention, but six patients had rapid progression of disease and required secondary procedures. These results indicate that a majority of young patients with claudication caused by atherosclerosis can be returned to full active-duty status in the military after angioplasty or surgery. However, some patients may require secondary procedures to relieve recurrent symptoms caused by rapid progression of disease. We believe that an aggressive interventional approach is warranted in the evaluation and treatment of young patients with work-limiting claudication caused by atherosclerosis. These patients are at significant risk of developing premature coronary occlusive disease and should be monitored closely.

Adult

Intermittent claudication: its natural course.

Of more than 600 patients seen for intermittent claudication by this group and not primarily considered for surgery, 104 had angiographic studies and are the basis for this report. The follow-up period varied from 6 months to 8 years, with a mean of 2.5 years. Classification by severity of claudication revealed 33 with less than one block, 36 with two blocks, and 35 with two or more blocks, foot, calf, or thigh claudication. Eighty-two remained stable or improved and 22 worsened. Of the 22 who worsened, 16 had only worsening of claudication (six of them requiring arterial reconstruction) and six progressed to gangrene and required amputations. Of the 82, 66 either had marked improvement of claudication or remained sufficiently stable not to require any operative intervention. Sixteen required arterial reconstruction for persistent, intolerable, or incapacitating claudication. Five of the six amputees were from the less than one half block claudication group. Angiographic studies were significant only in relation to the below-knee runoff in that three of 25 with less than one vessel runoff, two of 23 with one to two vessel runoff, and one of 56 with two to three vessel runoff came to amputation, regardless of the pattern of more proximal arterial occlusions. The study suggests that intermittent claudication is relatively benign, with only 5.8 percent coming to amputation in a 2.5 year mean follow-up. Prognosis is determined by the severity of below-knee arterial involvement and apparent inability to compensate for ischemia via the collateral circulation since only 12.5 percent of those with the most pronounced involvement came to amputation.

Amputation, Surgical

Lumbar sympathectomy in the treatment of uncomplicated intermittent claudication.

The precise role lumbar sympathectomy plays in the treatment of uncomplicated intermittent claudication continues to be debated. Past experience at this institution indicates that lumbar sympathectomy has a definite positive role in uncomplicated intermittent claudication. A critical analysis of the 86 patients included in this study adds further support to this contention. Properly selected patients who undergo complete anatomic sympathetic denervation of the lower limbs continue to have very satisfactory results, as they have since 1947 in this institution.

Adult

[The fate of patients with intermittent claudication--comparison of surgical and non-surgical treatment].

The purpose of this study was to determine the operative indication for patients with intermittent claudication because of arteriosclerosis obliterans, and to compare the late result of the surgical treatment group (130 cases, 175 limbs) with that of the non-surgical treatment group (27 cases, 31 limbs). There were 3 operative deaths and 21 late deaths in the surgical group, and 11 late deaths in the non-surgical group. The number one cause of death was heart failure, including ischemic heart disease, in both groups. The 5-year cumulative patency rate was 92.5% in the aorto-iliac, 70.6% in the femoro-distal and 82.0% in the aorto-femoro-distal arterial reconstructions. Long term symptom free rates of the surgical group and the non-surgical group, except fatal cases, were 87.2% and 25.0% in the aorto-iliac, 57.7% and 25.0% in the femoro-distal, 86.7% and 0% in the aorto-femoro-distal arterial regions, respectively. Late result of intermittent claudication in the surgical group was better than that in the non-surgical group. We conclude that intermittent claudication should be considered to be the indication for surgery, except for the cases with high risk diseases or malignant diseases.

Female

Pentoxifylline in the nonoperative management of intermittent claudication.

To assess the clinical effectiveness of pentoxifylline (Trental) in the treatment of intermittent claudication and ischemic rest pain, 129 patients were retrospectively interviewed with respect to compliance and improvement of symptoms. Risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis were tabulated, as was the severity of symptomatic lower extremity peripheral vascular insufficiency. The duration of pentoxifylline treatment was 35.8 +/- 45.0 weeks (mean +/- 1 S.D.). Forty-eight percent of the patients discontinued pentoxifylline on their own, most commonly because of side effects (13%) or perceived lack of improvement (23%). Of those patients taking pentoxifylline for eight weeks or more (n = 110), 64% noted some improvement, with 31% reporting increased claudication distance and 52% reduced claudication pain. Pentoxifylline provided pain relief in 52% of patients with ischemic rest pain (n = 27). Neither diabetes, hypertension, concomitant antiplatelet therapy, the severity of claudication, nor pretreatment ankle-brachial Doppler pressures were related to treatment outcome. Increased daily walking exercise during treatment was associated with successful outcome (p = 0.04). Clinical response to pentoxifylline was inversely related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily in those with 1 block claudication (n = 71, p = 0.05). Pentoxifylline was not very effective in increasing reported claudication distance. This review suggests that pentoxifylline may be of value for patients with ischemic rest pain when arterial reconstruction is not possible. Whether pentoxifylline is useful adjunctive therapy for intermittent claudication requires further scrutiny.

Aged

Realistic expectations for the patient with intermittent claudication.

To determine the natural history of intermittent claudication 112 patients were followed for a minimum of 5 years and a median period of 82 months. Thirty-seven patients (33 per cent) died during the study period. Myocardial infarction (44 per cent) and cerebrovascular disease (28 per cent) were the most common causes of death. Overall mortality rate was 8, 23 and 40 per cent, at 2, 5 and 8 years respectively. Initial ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) correlated with subsequent death. With an initial ABPI less than 0.5 death occurred in 20, 50 and 69 per cent at 2, 5 and 7 years respectively, compared with 5, 16 and 24 per cent respectively for those with an initial ABPI greater than or equal to 0.5 (P less than 0.0001). Of the survivors only 21 per cent had worsening claudication and 13 per cent progressed to critical ischaemia. Arterial bypass for limb salvage was required in eight patients and four limbs were lost during the study period. ABPI identifies a subgroup of claudicants with an extremely high risk of death from coronary and/or cerebral pathology. In this subgroup an aggressive approach to the correction of atherosclerotic risk factors, rather than emphasis on the peripheral vascular problem alone, may improve survival.

Adult

Treatment of intermittent claudication. Lumbar paravertebral somatic block with phenol.

Our experience of twenty-eight patients with intermittent claudication treated by means of paravertebral lumbar somatic nerve block is presented. There was immediate demonstrable improvement in 92-5% of the twenty-six patients included in this follow up. At the end of 6 months the improvement was maintained in 72-7% of the patients and in about 70-0% of patients at 6 months and at 9 months. Six of the seven patients followed up for 1 year had a claudication distance at least twice that prior to the block. The results of this indicate that lumbar somatic nerve block is less disturbing and more effective than other forms of conservative treatment for intermittent claudication.

Aged

Calf blood flow in intermittent claudication.

Calf blood flow was correlated with severity of symptoms in 24 patients with intermittent claudication. Calf blood flow was measured (Whitney strain gauge) at three levels of demand--at rest, after exercise ("open"), and after exercise with total vascular occlusion by a tourniquet about the thigh ("closed"). The results showed significant correlation between the patients' reported capacity to walk and measured exercise tolerance on an ergometer (P less than or equal to .01). The coefficients of correlation between exercise tolerance and calf blood flow (resting, postopen or postclosed exercise) or the vascular reserve (difference between postopen and postclosed exercise hyperemia) were not significant. It is concluded that capacity for walking in cases of intermittent claudication is not a reliable index of the calf blood flow. The relationship between these factors would be clearer if the patients pain threshold and calf tissue metabolic activity were known also.

Adult

Intermittent claudication as a manifestation of silent myocardial ischemia: a pilot study.

One hundred consecutive patients with intermittent claudication were screened noninvasively with electrocardiography chest wall mapping stress test and transcutaneous aortovelography during bicycle ergometry. Electrocardiographic chest wall stress testing indicated three-vessel coronary disease in 25 patients and left anterior descending plus circumflex (left main stem equivalent) disease in seven. In these 32 patients transcutaneous aortovelography demonstrated a decrease in stroke distance (an index of cardiac stroke volume) (median, -28%; 90% range, +5% to -48%), and coronary angiography confirmed the presence and severity of the disease. The claudication distance ranged between 50 and 250 meters. After myocardial revascularization or medical therapy a significant increase occurred in the stroke distance after exercise (median, +20; 90% range, +40% to -25%); also a significant increase in the postexercise pressure index and a reduction in the recovery time (p less than 0.01). No change occurred in the ankle/pressure index at rest. Twelve patients were able to walk without being limited by claudication; 15 reported improvement with a two to tenfold increase in claudication distance. No change occurred in three. The results indicate that silent myocardial ischemia is a common finding in patients with intermittent claudication. It produces left ventricular dysfunction and a decrease in stroke volume leading to a large fall in ankle pressure and early onset of claudication during exercise. Niltrates and myocardial revascularization tend to reverse this.

Aged

Behavior of calf blood flow in normal subjects and in patients with intermittent claudication during a 24-h time span.

Calf basal resting and reactive hypercemia blood flow were measured at 4-h intervals during a day in fifteen healthy subjects and in fifteen patients with intermittent claudication by means of a venous occlusion plethysmograph. Mathematical-statistical analysis of the data failed to demonstrate circadian periodicity of calf blood flow in healthy subjects, but proved the existence of a 24-h rhythm of calf basal resting and reactive hyperemia blood flow in patients with intermittent claudication. This different behavior of calf blood flow can be understood if one considers that in healthy subjects the voluntary muscles in the extremities have a blood supply which can be instantaneously adjusted over a large area. In patients with peripheral arterial disease, on the other hand, the vascular responses in voluntary muscles of the limbs to various endogenous or exogenous stimuli are impaired and reduced. The circadian rhythm observed in patients with intermittent claudication has early evening peaks and a nocturnal trough with a nadir occurring after midnight and before 0400. This rhythm displays marked similarities with those of all other circulatory values. As to the mechanism of rhythm, it is hard to decide whether or not it has an independent endogenous origin. It is known that many of the circulatory variables are interrelated and that some are clearly related to other circadian rhythms. Perhaps the rhythmic reduction of limb blood flow which occurs during the night is the mechanism underlying the nocturnal pain of subjects with limb ischemia by peripheral arterial disease.

Adult

Optimal hematocrit in patients with intermittent claudication. Exercise-induced muscle tissue oxygen pressure after stepwise hemodilution.

In patients with severe intermittent claudication and concomitant high hematocrit values a hypervolemic (stepwise infusion of 500 ml 10% hydroxyethylsolution: mean molecular weight 200.000/substitution degree 0.5) or isovolemic hemodilution (stepwise venesection and subsequent infusion of 10% hydroxyethylstarch solution 200/0.5) was performed intraindividually. Measurements of muscle tissue oxygen pressure (pO2) values using a standardized pedalergometric exercise test were performed. The optimal results of muscle tissue pO2 behaviour after pedalergometric exercise were found at average hematocrit values of 40%-41% when isovolemic hemodilution was applied. Hypervolemic hemodilution improves muscle tissue oxygen supply at rest, but shows a retarded reactive hyperoxia under exercise conditions. Thus it is likely that in patients with severe intermittent claudication an optimal tissue oxygen supply can be obtained in the case of isovolemic hemodilution at hematocrit values of about 40-41%.

Exercise Test