Critical Limb Ischaemia and Stem Cell Therapy

Critical limb ischaemia (CLI) is a severe condition of peripheral arterial disease characterized by severe pain when at rest in the hands, feet, and legs. CLI is a syndrome rather than a disease in itself and it can result from a variety of condition including diabetes, atherosclerosis, thromboembolism or atheroembolism, and from thromoanngiitis obliterans (TAO, or Buerger’s disease). The pain of CLI is due to decreased blood flow to the extremities which often progresses to skin ulcers and sores as the body is unable to heal itself. Amputation may be necessary in some cases where infection has set in and the leg, foot, or hand has become gangrenous and unresponsive to treatment. Around 25% of cases lead to amputation and the earlier the condition can be identified and treated the better the prognosis.

Current Criticial Limb Ischaemia Treatments

Medications to thin the blood, reduce blood pressure, and cholesterol, and to control diabetes are key elements of any CLI treatment plan. Patients will also be likely to take pain medications to control their symptoms, and may also be prescribed drugs to prevent clotting and to fight infections. It is extremely important that those with CLI stop smoking as this significantly reduces the likelihood of the disease worsening to the point of necessary amputation (Olin, 2000).

Surgery for Critical Limb Ischaemia

Revascularization surgery may be appropriate for some but not all patients are able to undergo such a procedure. An endovascular procedure is one where a blockage in the peripheral blood vessels is cleared through an angioplasty using a balloon inserted into the artery to open up the blood vessel, followed by the removal of arterial plaque or a clot (thrombolysis), and then the insertion of a stent to keep the artery open in some cases. This can successfully restore oxygenated blood flow to the extremities and prevent skin breakdown, ulceration, and infection. In other cases, a bypass graft may be carried out in order to create arterial blood flow to an area of ischaemia. This can involve the use of a patient’s own vein or an artificial blood vessel.

Read More –> Stem Cell Therapy for CLI
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