3/8/2007 - Even tiny leg arteries respond to treatment for peripheral arterial disease SEATTLE, March 8, 2007—Treatment to open blocked blood vessels can help people who have severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) avoid leg damage and possible amputation, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR). The treatment works on even the tiny blood vessels in the lower legs, which are typically difficult to unclog and are prone to closing again after treatment. With PAD, cholesterol and scar tissue build up and can cause arteries to become clogged. When blood flow is blocked, tissue begins to die and can become infected. In very severe cases, amputation may be necessary. The study involved 47 people with severe blockages in arteries below the knee. Researchers used a combination of stents (tiny metal cylinders) and balloon angioplasty (inflating a small balloon inside the blocked artery) to unblock arteries and restore blood flow to the lower legs. These minimally invasive treatments can be done with a cut the size of a pencil tip, according to the SIR. Three months after treatment, 75 percent of the arteries remained open. Arteries that had closed again received a second treatment. Eighteen months after the second treatment, 91 percent of these arteries were still open. “This study shows that we can restore blood flow through the smallest vessels in the legs and keep them open long-term, saving these patients from life-altering amputation,” said lead study author Nael Saad, M.D. Dr. Saad noted that the availability of smaller equipment was a primary reason the study was a success. Back