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Speciality Spotlight
Vascular
and Interventional Radilogy
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Isner JM, Baumgartner I, Rauh G, et al [ Tufts Univ, Boston]
Treatment of Thromboangiitis Obliterans [Buerger’s Disease] by Intramuscular Gene Transfer of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor : Preliminary Clinical Results
J Vasc Surg 28: 964-975, 1998
Buerger’s disease, also called thromboangiitis obliterans [TAO], is a
peripheral artery occlusive disease affecting young smokers. Once critical limb ischemia with ulceration or gangrene has occurred, the course of TAO is relentlessly progressive, even if the patient quits smoking.
The patients received 2 treatments with naked plasmid DNA-encoding vascular endothelial growth factor [ph VEGF165]. The treatments, given 4 weeks apart, consisted of direct IM injection at 4 arbitrary sites in the ischemic extremity.
To be successful, gene therapy must be initiated before the onset of forefoot gangrene.
VEGF has shown considerable early promises in the treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular disease.
