HEMORHEOLOGY AND WALKING OF PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL OCCLUSIVE DISEASES PATIENTS DURING TREATMENT WITH GINKGO-BILOBA EXTRACT

AIM: To study the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (GbE)(5) from t he points of view of hemorheology for patients of peripheral arterial occlusive diseases (PAOD). METHODS: The treatment with GbE (240 mg . d (-1), po) and the pain-free walking distance (PFWD) were carried out f or 24 PAOD patients (12 nondiabetic, ND and 12 diabetic, D) over 48 wk . The parameters erythrocyte stiffness (ES) and relaxation time (RT), the blood plasma viscosity (eta) the plasma fibrinogen concentration ( C-f) and the blood sedimentation rate (BSR), the PFWD, and maximal wal king distance (MWD) were determined at 6 wk before treatment ( - 6), a t the beginning of the treatment (0), and after 6, 11, 16, and 48 wk o f treatment. RESULTS: At wk - 6, ES and RT of both the ND- and D-group were not significantly different from a healthy control group. At wk 0, stiffness and RT were significantly higher than healthy control, an d the mean PFWD was only 111 m. The eta value was significantly elevat ed and C-f and BSR were enhanced. Throughout 11 wk of treatment ES, RT , eta, and C-f decreased gradually and PFWD improved. Between 16 and 4 8 wk, ES, and RT were no longer significantly different from the contr ols, whereas eta and C-f decreased gradually but remained higher than normal, BSR decreased, and the PFWD improved by a factor of 3.8 times (D) and 3.3 times (ND). CONCLUSION: GbE gives therapeutic effects in P AOD patients.