Peripheral Artery Disease News and Research

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Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when leg arteries become narrowed or blocked by plaque. These blockages can result in severe pain for patients, limited physical mobility, and life-threatening non-healing leg ulcers. According to the American Heart Association, this condition affects approximately 8 to 12 million Americans. With only about 25 percent of PAD patients undergoing treatment, it is a disease that is largely under-diagnosed and under-treated. If left untreated, PAD can lead to critical leg ischemia, a condition where not enough blood is being delivered to the leg to keep the tissue alive. Total loss of circulation to the legs and feet can cause gangrene and lead to amputation.

Study finds that Mediterranean diet may also prevent peripheral artery disease

A multicenter study that previously reported a reduction in heart attack and stroke with a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or with nuts now also reports a lower risk of peripheral artery disease, according to a study in the January 22/29 issue of JAMA.

21 Jan 2014

Proteon's PRT-201 gets orphan drug designation for prevention of arteriovenous access dysfunction

Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing novel, first-in-class pharmaceuticals to address the critical medical needs of patients with kidney and vascular diseases, today announced that its lead product, PRT-201, has received orphan drug designation in the European Union for the prevention of arteriovenous access dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

9 Jan 2014

Bunker Vein and Imaging Center starts second location in Round Rock

Bunker Vein and Imaging Center is proud to announce its second location, which opened this month in Round Rock, Texas. Dr. Stephen Bunker and his medical team have been treating patients with varicose veins, spider veins and venous disease for over five years in the Central Austin area.

7 Jan 2014

Researchers awarded $25 million NIH grant to study critical limb ischemia treatment

A team of researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital has been awarded $25 million by the National Institutes of Health to conduct a four-year, randomized clinical trial-the BEST-CLI Trial (Best Endovascular versus Best Surgical Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia). The trial will compare traditional bypass surgery with the less invasive alternative of endovascular treatment for patients with critical limb ischemia.

11 Dec 2013

AtheroNova completes active treatment portion of Phase 1 clinical trial with AHRO-001

AtheroNova Inc., a biotech company focused on the research and development of compounds to safely regress atherosclerotic plaque and improve lipid profiles in humans, today announces achievement of a major milestone with the completion of the active treatment portion of its Phase 1 clinical trial with its lead compound, AHRO-001. The Phase 1 study objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of AHRO-001 in healthy volunteers. The clinical study is being conducted in Russia with AtheroNova's licensing partner, OOO CardioNova.

5 Dec 2013

GM-CSF therapy does not improve treadmill walking time in patients with peripheral artery disease

Joseph Poole, M.D., Ph.D., of the Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, and colleagues studied whether therapy with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), an agent that functions as a white blood cell growth factor, would improve walking performance in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (a form of vascular disease in which there is partial or total blockage of an artery, usually one leading to a leg or arm).

19 Nov 2013

Study: Blood cell growth factor improves effects of exercise in patients with peripheral artery disease

A blood cell growth factor can boost the effects of exercise in improving mobility for patients with peripheral artery disease, a clinical study has shown.

19 Nov 2013

Auckland physician performs first patient implant of Boston Scientific Innova DES System

Launching a key clinical trial expected to serve as the foundation for global regulatory approvals, a physician in Auckland, New Zealand has performed the first patient implant of the Boston Scientific Corporation Innova Drug-Eluting Stent System.

10 Oct 2013

AtheroMed completes patient enrollment in EASE clinical study for treating PAD

AtheroMed, a developer of innovative technologies for treating peripheral artery disease, announced that it has completed patient enrollment in the EASE clinical study. The EASE study results will be presented by Dr. Stephen Williams, Director, Vascular Medicine Center at Johns Hopkins University, during a Late Breaking Clinical Trials Session on Wednesday, October 9th, at the Vascular Interventional Advances conference in Las Vegas.

2 Oct 2013

Research shows commonly prescribed statin medicines can adversely affect cognitive function

New research that looked at whether two commonly prescribed statin medicines, used to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'bad cholesterol' levels in the blood, can adversely affect cognitive function has found that one of the drugs tested caused memory impairment in rats.

26 Sep 2013

Multiple risk factors eliminate impact of AF on stroke risk, but more research is needed

Dr Benn Christiansen said: "We know that atrial fibrillation increases the risk of ischemic stroke. And in patients with atrial fibrillation or previous ischemic stroke, the risk of stroke increases with the number of risk factors.

5 Sep 2013

Rigel plans to focus on completing three clinical programs for ITP, DLE and dry eye disease

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced its plans to focus the Company's resources on the completion of three lead clinical programs. These efforts include commencing a Phase 3 clinical study of fostamatinib, an oral SYK inhibitor, in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura pending discussions with regulatory agencies.

5 Sep 2013

Facebook groups are effective tool for increasing HIV testing among at-risk populations

Peer-led Facebook groups are an acceptable and effective tool for increasing home-based HIV testing among at-risk populations. HIV infection is a major health concern for men who have sex with men (MSM), especially among African Americans and Latinos who have high rates of incident cases and new diagnoses.

3 Sep 2013

Study: Compared to open bypass, stenting keeps circulation flowing longer in some patients

New Johns Hopkins research suggests that people who undergo minimally invasive placement of stents to open clogged leg arteries are significantly less likely than those who have conventional bypass surgery to need a second treatment for the condition within two years.

8 Aug 2013

Soaring rates of peripheral artery disease call for global attention

The number of people with peripheral artery disease worldwide has risen dramatically (by 23.5%) in just 10 years, from about 164 million in 2000 to 202 million in 2010, according to the first robust global estimates, published in The Lancet.

1 Aug 2013

Home-based exercise intervention improves walking performance, physical activity in PAD patients

In a trial that included nearly 200 participants with peripheral artery disease, a home-based exercise intervention with a group-mediated cognitive behavioral intervention component improved walking performance and physical activity in patients with PAD, according to a study in the July 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Jul 2013

AtheroNova starts AHRO-001 Phase 1 clinical trial for treatment of atherosclerosis

AtheroNova Inc., a biotech company focused on the research and development of compounds to safely regress atherosclerotic plaque and improve lipid profiles in humans, today announces achievement of a major milestone with the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial with its lead compound, AHRO-001. The Phase 1 study will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of AHRO-001 in healthy volunteers.

25 Jun 2013

NIH awards $12.7M to research groups to explore new treatments for patients in eight disease areas

The National Institutes of Health has awarded $12.7 million to match nine academic research groups with a selection of pharmaceutical industry compounds to explore new treatments for patients in eight disease areas, including Alzheimer's disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and schizophrenia.

19 Jun 2013

Report shows low baseline DBP associated with brain atrophy in patients with arterial disease

Low baseline diastolic blood pressure appears to be associated with brain atrophy in patients with arterial disease, whenever declining levels of blood pressure over time among patients who had a higher baseline BP were associated with less progression of atrophy, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Neurology, a JAMA Network publication.

11 Jun 2013

Avinger and PDL BioPharma close structured financing and royalty transaction

Avinger, Inc. and PDL BioPharma, Inc. (PDL) (NASDAQ: PDLI) announced today the closing of a structured financing and royalty transaction on April 18, 2013, in which PDL will provide Avinger with up to $40 million of mezzanine financing.

22 Apr 2013