15 patients suffering thromboangiitis obliterans with the occlusion of three branches below popliteal artery were treated by the operation of vein-arterification compounded femoral and popliteal planes at this hospital from 1990 to 1995. It is proved by clinical observation and correspondence with 15 patients that the symptoms ammeliated quickly and surely at the near future and forward blood supply lasted so as to avoid the complications of limb edema and heart failure. So the authors consider that the composite vein-arterification has a good anatomical and physical basis and suits to sufferers with the occlusion below popliteal vessels caused by different reasons, the principle of vein-arterification is to select the trunk artery of no pathological changes and not the collateral deep vein, but should select small-median superficial vein far away from pathological artery.
Objective To investigate the efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation in treating lower l imb thromboangiitis obl iterans (TAO). Methods From January 2005 to November 2008, 25 patients (27 l imbs) with lower l imb TAO were treated. There were 24 males (26 l imbs) and 1 female (1 l imb), aging 16-44 years (33 years on average). Fifteen left l imbs and 12 right l imbs were involved. The median duration of disease was 2 years (from 3 months to9 years). Intermittent claudication was observed in 5 cases (5 l imbs), 16 patients (17 l imbs) had symptom of rest pain, 4 patients (5 l imbs) suffered ulcer on the distal l imbs. The results of visual analogue scale (VAS), maximum walking distance (MWD), ankle/brachial index (ABI), and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) before operation were (7.16 ± 1.12) points, (0.098 ± 0.043) km, 0.20 ± 0.09, and (11.78 ± 3.46) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), respectively. A total of 300 mL bone-marrow blood was extracted from the il iac bone. And then the mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone-marrow blood. All patients received cell transplantation only one time. The amount of transplantation bone marrow mononuclear cells was (1.82-29.46) × 109 (mean 13.33 × 109). Results All patients were followed up for 1 years. After 4 weeks of implantation, the results of VAS, MWD, ABI, and TcPO2 were (2.39 ± 0.51) points, (0.783 ± 0.176) km, 0.28 ± 0.16, (21.33 ± 6.57) mm Hg, respectively, showing significant difference compared with preoperative results (P lt; 0.05). The VAS, MWD, ABI, and TcPO2 increased to (2.44 ± 0.67) points, (1.199 ± 0.304) km, 0.37 ± 0.09, (27.90 ± 5.23) mm Hg after 1 year of implantation, showing significant differences compared with preoperative results (P lt; 0.05). One ulcer healed well and the improvement was obtained in other 3 cases after 4 weeks of implantation (80%). Four ulcers healed well after 1 year of implantation (80%). After 1 year of implantation, angiography revealed 37.04% affected limbs had a satisfactory neovascularization. The angiographic levels were grade 0 in 5 cases, grade 1 in 12 cases, grade 2 in 4 cases, and grade 3 in 6 cases. Conclusion Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation could be a simple, safe, effective method to treat TAO.
Objective To investigate the effect and safety of autologous bone marrow-mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) transplantation on ischemic limb of patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO). Methods Thirteen patients with TAO underwent transplantation of autologous BM-MNC into ischemic muscles of 17 lower limbs. A series of subjective indexes (improvement of pain and cold sensation) and objective indexes including increase of ankle brachial index (ABI), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), and improvement of foot skin ulcer were used to evaluate the effects. Results The outcomes were evaluated after 2 months of transplantation. The pain relief and improvement of cold feeling were in 15 limbs and 16 limbs, respectively. Before transplantation and 2 months after transplantation, ABI was 0.37±0.06 and 0.50±0.17, respectively (Plt;0.05), and TcPO2 of the ischemic legs were (24.59±3.36) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and (35.00±10.44) mm Hg, respectively (Plt;0.05). ABI increased in 9 limbs. TcPO2 elevated in 14 limbs. Skin ulcer improved in 7 limbs. Thirteen patients were followed up from 4 to 18 months (average 8 months), the patients’ symptoms improved in 13 limbs. ABI was 0.45±0.14, which wasn’t different from those before transplantation and 2 months after transplantation (Pgt;0.05). TcPO2 was (33.24±10.43) mm Hg, which was different from those before transplantation and 2 months after transplantation (Plt;0.05) and was elevated in 12 limbs. Skin ulcer healing was in 5 limbs. The ischemic symptoms in 2 patients were not relieved. There was no mortality and high level amputation. The following complications, such as proliferative retinopathy, malignant tumor, myocardial infarction, stroke or hemangioma, were not found in all patients.Conclusion In patients with TAO, intramuscular transplantation of autologous BMMNC is a safe and effective method, and may improve symptoms and accelerate the healing of skin ulcer.
Stem cell transplantation is one of the main methods to treat thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO). In recent years, research on the treatment mechanism of stem cell transplantation has made some progress. The results of a number of stem cell clinical trials specifically for TAO have been published. Some new stem cell types have gradually been used in the clinic. There is no major dispute over security. In addition, research shows that the efficacy of stem cell transplantation is affected in many ways, and some factors have a certain predictive effect on the possibility of amputation after transplantation. This paper reviews the clinical research progress of stem cell transplantation for TAO, and aims to provide some basis for the better use of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of TAO.
Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of ulnar cortex transverse transport technique in treating upper extremity thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO). MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 7 male patients with upper extremity TAO who were admitted and met the inclusion criteria between January 2019 and July 2022. The patients ranged in age from 32 to 50 years, with a mean age of 40.1 years. The disease duration ranged from 6 to 24 months, averaging 13.6 months. The smoking history ranged from 8 to 31 years, with a mean of 18.4 years. All patients presented with finger ulcers or gangrene, including 1 case affecting the thumb and index finger, 1 case affecting the index and middle fingers, 1 case affecting the middle and ring fingers, 1 case affecting only the ring finger, and 3 cases affecting the ring and little fingers. The preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 9.1±0.7. All patients underwent treatment with the ulnar cortext transverse transport technique. The wound healing time and the disappearance time of rest pain were recorded. The VAS score was used to assess the degree of hand pain before and after operation. Serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured before operation and at 1 month after operation. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the affected limb was performed before operation and at 3 months after operation to evaluate changes in blood vessels. The clinical outcomes were evaluated at 1 year after operation based on the Patwa and Krishnan grading system. ResultsAll 7 patients were followed up 12-17 months, with an average of 13.7 months. All patients experienced successful healing of ulcers, with wound healing time ranging from 14 to 21 days, averaging 17.3 days. During the follow-up, no complication occurred, and there was no recurrence of ulcers. The disappearance time of rest pain ranged from 8 to 15 days, averaging 12.1 days. The pre- and post-operative (1-month) serum IL-6 levels were (25.1±5.9) pg/mL and (11.9±2.9) pg/mL, respectively, with a significant difference (t=5.363, P=0.002). CTA examination at 3 months after operation revealed partial revascularization of upper extremity arteries and establishment of collateral circulation, showing significant improvement compared to preoperative status. The VAS scores at 1, 7, 28 days, and 6 months postoperatively were 6.4±0.8, 3.7±0.8, 0.6±0.8, and 0.1±0.4, respectively, all of which significantly improved compared to preoperative scores (P<0.05). Furthermore, the VAS scores gradually decreased over time, with significant differences observed between postoperative time points (P<0.05). At 1 year after operation, the effectiveness of all 7 patients were evaluated as excellent based on the Patwa and Krishnan grading system. ConclusionThe ulnar cortex transverse transport technique can improve blood circulation in the upper limb of patients with TAO, reconstruct microcirculation, inhibit inflammation, promote ulcer healing, and alleviate limb pain.