An objective evaluation of muscle oxygen content in claudicants receiving drug therapy.

The effects of medical treatment with a prostaglandin I2 analog (beraprost sodium) were evaluated in 19 of 120 cases studied with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) from January 1993 to September 1994. The relative changes in oxygenated (Oxy) and deoxygenated (Deo) hemoglobin (Hb) in the calf muscle were measured during a treadmill walking test and the subsequent recovery period. After medical treatment in these 19 cases, recovery time of OxyHb decreased in 10 cases, increased in 7 cases and remained unchanged in two cases. Pressure studies did not facilitate the assessment of changes in the severity of claudication. Our results demonstrate that NIRS can provide objective information regarding the effects of medical therapy in claudicants.