Prostaglandin E1-Therapie vermindert zirkulierende Adhäsionsmoleküle (ICAM, E-Selectin, VCAM-1) bei Patienten mit peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit

Background: It has been postulated that adhesion molecules (AM) may be involved in development and progression of human atherosclerosis. We examined whether prostaglandin (PG) E1 affects circulating levels of the AM (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin) in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) patients. Methods and results: AM are significantly (p < 0.01) increased in PVD (n = 65) as compared to controls (n = 31). There was no influence of risk factors. 26 PVD-patients received 2 different schemes of PGE1-therapy (group A [n = 17]; 5 ng PGE1/kg/min × 6 h × 5 d × 4 wk; group B [n = 9]; 60 mug PGE1/2 h × 5 d × 2 wk). PGE1 decreases all the AM significantly (p < 0.01) using both therapeutic schemes. Stopping PGE1-therapy reverses values within about 4 weeks. Details on therapeutic regimens (dose, duration, route, etc.) and individual response still need to be assessed. Conclusion: Our results indicate that PGE1-treatment of PVD is associated with a significant benefit on circulating AM. These findings are in line with...