Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of autologous hemopoietic stem cell implantation for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from CBM (1978 to September 2010), CNKI (1979 to September 2010), MEDLINE (1950 to September 2010), Pubmed (1950 to September 2010), Embase (1970 to September 2010), and Cochrane l ibrary (issue 4, 2010). The papers of the RCTs of cl inical therapeutic studieson PAD treated by autologous hemopoietic stem cell implantation were included and analyzed according to the criteria of the Cochrane handbook. Results Eight RCTs involving 280 patients and 322 extremities were included, with majority of trials of low methodological qual ity. Meta-analysis indicated that autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation had an increased ulcer cure rate [RD=0.38, 95% CI= (0.25, 0.50)], a significant improvement in the ankle brachial index [MD=0.11, 95%CI= (0.04, 0.18)], transcutaneous oxygen tension [MD=7.33, 95%CI= (3.14, 11.51)], and pain-free walking distance [SMD=1.35, 95%CI= (0.90, 1.79)], a significant reduction in rest pain scores [MD= —1.70, 95%CI= (—2.15, —1.25)], and a significant benefit in terms of l imb salvage [RD= —0.19, 95%CI= (—0.31, —0.07)]. Only 2 trials reported the side effects of autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, such as l imbs swell ing and concentrations of serum creatine phosphokinase increasing, and the long-term safety was not reported. Conclusion Based on the review, autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation may have positive effect on “no-option” patients with PAD. However, the evidence is not b enough due to the general low methodological qual ity, so we can not draw a rel iable conclusion about the effects of autologous stem cell transplantation for PAD at the moment. Further larger, randomized, double bl ind, placebo-controlled, and multicenter trials are needed.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sarpogrelate hydrochloride for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PAD treated by sarpogrelate hydrochloride were identified from CBM (1978 to September 2011), CNKI (1979 to May 2011), PubMed (1950 to May 2011), EMbase (1970 to May 2011) and The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2011). According to the criteria of the Cochrane Handbook, two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted and cross-checked the data, and assessed the methodological quality. Then meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results Nine RCTs involving 522 patients and 532 limbs were included, with low methodological quality in most trials. The results of meta-analyses indicated that compared with the conventional treatment, sarpogrelate hydrochloride could reduce the area of ulcers (MD= –3.22, 95%CI –3.99 to –2.45), and it could increase the ankle-brachial index (SMD=0.49, 95%CI 0.07 to 0.91), blood flow of dorsalis pedis artery (MD=0.16, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.23) and pain-free walking distance (MD=200.87, 95%CI 3.39 to 398.36). Five trials reported the adverse effects of sarpogrelate hydrochloride, most of which were mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion Based on the review, sarpogrelate hydrochloride may have positive effect on patients with PAD. However, the evidence is not b enough due to the general low methodological quality, so the reliable conclusion has to be drawn with more high quality studies in future.