Therapeutic Effects of Interventional Therapy and Conservative Therapy on Lower Extremity Arteriosclerosis Obliterans and Risk Factors for Prognosis

Background: Arteriosclerosis Obliterans (ASO) is an important cause for lower limb amputation. We aimed to compare the effects of interventional and conservative therapies on lower extremity ASO, and to analyze the risk factors for prognosis. Methods: Ninety-eight eligible patients were randomly divided into experimental ( n = 50) and control groups ( n = 48). Conservative therapy was conducted for control group, and experimental group was given conservative and interventional therapies. Their baseline clinical data, hospital stay length, claudication distance, Rutherford stage, diseased arteries, Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), clinical outcomes and adverse events were recorded. Then they were divided into poor ( n = 31) and good prognosis groups ( n = 67), and risk factors were explored by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The hospital stay length of experimental group was significantly shorter than that of control group ( p < 0.05). After treatment, Rutherford stage decreased, and vascular patency rate and total response rate rose in experimental group ( p < 0.05). Claudication distance and ABI significantly increased in both groups compared with those before treatment, especially in experimental group ( p < 0.05). The incidence rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, amputation and death were significantly lower in experimental group ( p < 0.05). Age, conservative therapy, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and fibrinogen were independent risk factors for poor prognosis ( p < 0.05). Age of >70 years old and fibrinogen level of >4 g/L had greater effects on prognosis. Conclusion: Interventional therapy works well for lower extremity ASO, with high safety, easy recovery and mild complications. Poor prognosis is caused by old age, conservative therapy, smoking,