[Padma-28, a herbal preparation, increases walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication]. / Padma-28, et urtepraeparat, øger gangdistancen hos patienter med claudicatio intermittens.

Thirty-six patients with stable intermittent claudication were randomized in a doubleblind study either to treatment with two tablets of Padma-28 twice daily (containing 340 mg dried herbal mixture composed according to an ancient lamaistic prescription) or placebo for four months. Effect of treatment was quantified by measurements of systemic and peripheral systolic blood pressures, and pain-free and maximal walking distances on a tread-mill. The actively treated group attained a significant increase in pain-free walking distance from 115 m (72-218) to 227 m (73- >1000, p < 0.05). The placebo group did not show significant changes in either pain-free or maximal walking distance. Significant changes in systemic or peripheral blood pressures could not be demonstrated in any of the groups. In conclusion, our study has shown that treatment with Padma-28 over a four month period significantly increases the walking distance in patients with stable intermittent claudication of long duration.

[Positive effect of intermittent overpressure and underpressure (Vacusac) in intermittent claudication]. / Positiv effekt af intermitterende over- og undertryk (Vacusac) ved claudicatio intermittens.

Twenty-two patients with intermittent claudication were included in a double-blinded, randomized trial comparing the effects of 25 treatments with intermittent suction and pressure (Vacusac treatment) to 25 placebo applications given over a period of two months. Twelve patients participated in an open trial investigating the effects of the same treatment on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation and fibrinolysis. Active treatment resulted in significant improvements in pain-free and maximal walking distances, whereas no changes could be found during placebo application. Active treatment caused significant increments in ADP-induced platelet aggregation, while the effects on fibrinolysis were uncertain. It is concluded that intermittent suction and pressure treatment offers a new approach for conservative treatment of intermittent claudication.

A botanical compound, Padma 28, increases walking distance in stable intermittent claudication.

Thirty-six patients with a median age of sixty-seven years and a median duration of intermittent claudication of five years were randomized to either active treatment with Padma 28 or placebo. The effect of treatment was quantified by measurements of systemic and peripheral systolic blood pressures and by measurements of the pain-free and the maximal walking distance on a treadmill. The ankle pressure index (ankle systolic pressure/arm systolic pressure) was calculated. The group randomized to active treatment received two tablets bid containing 340 mg of a dried herbal mixture composed according to an ancient lamaistic preparation (Padma 28). After active treatments, administered over a period of four months in a double-blinded, randomized design, the patients allocated to this group attained a significant increase in the pain-free walking distance from 52 m (20-106) to 86 m (24-164; P < 0.05) and in the maximal walking distance from 115 m (72-218) to 227 m (73- > 1,000; P < 0.05). The patient-group receiving placebo treatments did not show any significant changes in either the painfree or the maximal walking distance. The authors could not demonstrate any significant changes in the ankle pressure index either during active or during placebo treatment. In conclusion, this study has shown that treatment with Padma 28 over a period of four months significantly increased the walking distance in patients with stable, intermittent claudication of long duration.

Beneficial effects of intermittent suction and pressure treatment in intermittent claudication.

The present study reports on the effects of a physical treatment modality in patients with intermittent claudication. During this treatment a major part of the skin surface is subjected to intermittent suction and pressure. In a previous, preliminary study the authors found a beneficial effect of this treatment in intermittent claudication. The study included 34 patients with moderate, stable intermittent claudication. Twenty-two patients participated in a double-blinded, randomized trial comparing the effects of 25 treatments to 25 placebo applications given over a period of two months. Twelve patients participated in an open trial investigating the possible effects of the treatment on platelet aggregation and fibrinolysis. Pain-free and maximal walking distances were measured on a treadmill, and systolic blood pressure was measured on the upper limb, the ankle, and the first toe bilaterally. The threshold for adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was tested, and the fibrinolytic activity was estimated from the euglobulin clot lysis time. Active treatment resulted in significant improvements in pain-free and maximal walking distances, whereas no changes could be found during placebo administration. The treatment caused significant increments in the ADP thresholds for platelet aggregation, while the effects on fibrinolysis were uncertain. It is concluded that intermittent suction and pressure treatment offers a new approach for conservative treatment of intermittent claudication.

Effects of vacusac in intermittent claudication: a controlled cross-over study.

The effect of a new physical treatment modality, Vacusac, was tested on a group of patients with stable intermittent claudication. Twenty-two patients with a median age of 65 years and a median duration of intermittent claudication of 5 years were randomized to either active or placebo treatments. Seventeen patients completed the study. The effect of treatment was quantified by measurements of systemic and peripheral systolic blood pressures and by measurements of the pain-free and the maximal walking distance on a treadmill. The ankle pressure index (ankle systolic pressure/arm systolic pressure) and toe pressure index (toe systolic pressure/arm systolic pressure) were calculated. After 25 active treatments, administered over a period of 2 months, the patients allocated to this group attained a significant increase in the pain-free walking distance from 54 m (24-107 m) to 99 m (30-420 m) (P less than 0.05) and in the maximal walking distance from 99 m (36-182 m) to 185 m (68-591 m) (P less than 0.05). The patient group receiving 25 placebo treatments did not show any significant changes in either the pain-free or the maximal walking distance. This group then received 25 active treatments over a period of 2 months. This active treatment resulted in a significant increase in the pain-free walking distance from 51 m (14-100 m) to 86 m (18-1000 m) (P less than 0.05) and in the maximal walking distance from 98 m (40-199 m) to 175 m (51-1000 m) (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)