Angiogenesis in a patient with ischemic limb - Induced by intramuscular injection of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibrin platform

Direct revascularization of critical ischemia of the limb is often unsucces sful due to the anatomic extent an distribution of arterial occlusive disea se, and no pharmacologic treatment has proved effective in treating this co ndition. Patients with ischemic limb may eventually require amputation and may develop serious morbidity and mortality. The goal of limb salvage in th ese patients has stimulated research into alternative treatment methods, in cluding angiogenesis. Attempts have been made to apply growth factors directly or to encode DNA f or such factors, but it is unknown whether these factors remain at the targ et site long enough to be effective. We report our strategy of using vascul ar endothelial growth factor in a network, which enables the sustained rele ase of biologic material at the target site.