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Background: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most advanced stage of peripheral arterial disease. CLI patients, compared to non-CLI, achieve worse treatment outcomes and generate higher costs., Aims: The aim of the study was to compare endothelial function and clinical outcomes in CLI and non-CLI patients after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)., Methods: In this prospective, follow-up study, 30 CLI patients and 40 non-CLI patients underwent PTA. Endothelial function was assessed based on flow mediated dilatation (FMD), reactive-hyperemia index (RHI), while the ankle-brachial index, toe-brachial index and the Rutherford scale were used for peripheral artery disease progression evaluation. The results were assessed before PTA, as well as 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure., Results: There were no differences at the baseline regarding to endothelial function between both groups. Neither FMD nor RHI changed after PTA in any of the groups, although there was a difference in median RHI value between CLI and non-CLI patients regarding the 1st and 6th month of the follow-up (RHI6-RHI1 = 0.08 in CLI and -0.15 in non-CLI; P = 0.01). The larger baseline intima-media thickness (IMT) in the CLI group allowed to predict a greater number of re-intervention (P = 0.01) and major adverse event rates (P = 0.03). CLI patients presented larger decrease in the Rutherford scale compared to non-CLI (P <0.001)., Conclusions: Baseline IMT was predictive for re-interventions and major adverse event rates. Although neither of groups exhibited significant changes in endothelial function, we proved differences between them regarding to changes in RHI.

Background: Several predictors of clinical outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) interventions in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have been investigated. Indices of endothelial function, arterial pulse waveform analysis (aPWA) and markers of peripheral artery ischemia were among the most commonly examined. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between potential predictors of clinical outcomes after peripheral artery PTA during a 1-year follow-up period., Methods: The study included 72 individuals with PAD at a mean age of 66.3 ± 7.2 (79.1% males). All patients underwent PTA of the peripheral arteries. Among them, 42.8% presented critical limb ischemia (CLI). During the first visit and at 1 month and 6 months after PTA, endothelial function and aPWA measurements were taken. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI) and physical evalu-ation of the limbs took place during the first visit and at 1, 6 and 12 months after the PTA. The study endpoints included myocardial infarction, amputation, death, stroke and reintervention. All subjects included in the study were observed for 386 days after the PTA., Results: A significant improvement was noted in walking distance after PTA at the following time points, as well as transient improvement of ABI and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and no significant change in aPWA indices and reactive-hyperaemia index (RHI). The mean ABI, TBI, FMD and RHI values did not correlate with each other at baseline. There were 25 study endpoints which occurred in 16 patients during the follow-up period (22.2%). Patients with CLI, hypercholesterolemia, lower dias-tolic blood pressure, higher subendocardial viability ratio, a greater number of pack-years and lower TBI at baseline presented significantly poorer clinical outcomes in terms of endpoint events., Conclusions: Endothelial function assessed as FMD and reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) before PTA in patients with advanced PAD do not predict clinical outcomes during the 1-year follow-up.

Background: Patients with advanced lower limb ischaemia are, at present, mainly treated using revascularisation., Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the dynamics of blood flow in below-the-knee (BTK) arteries assessed by angiography correlate with clinical outcomes after a 12-month follow-up in patients with severe leg ischaemia treated per-cutaneously., Methods: The current study enrolled 287 consecutive patients who underwent 302 endovascular procedures on the infrain-guinal arteries. The mean age of the included participants was 67.4 ± 10.4 years. After the procedure, blood flow in all patent BTK arteries was assessed using frame count (FC). Patients were then evaluated after one, three, six, and 12 months. During the follow-up visits, clinical condition was evaluated based on the Rutherford scale, ankle-brachial index, and the need for reintervention or amputation., Results: Clinical improvement at the end of the follow-up period was observed in 242 (80.1%) cases and no improvement or worsening in was seen in 42 (13.0%) patients. In total, 66 (21.8%) reinterventions and 18 (6%) amputations during the follow-up period were recorded. Patients with higher FC in the tibial anterior artery experienced significantly better clinical improvement within the 12-month follow-up period (p = 0.02). Lower FC predisposed to worse clinical outcomes after an-gioplasty. Similar tendencies were found for the tibial posterior and fibular arteries but without statistical significance., Conclusions: The results suggest a negative relationship between FC observed on the final angiogram and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular treatment of the peripheral arteries.