Effects of treatment with oral prostaglandin E1 on lumbar spinal canal stenosis

Abstract Background: We studied the clinical effects of oral treatment with prostaglandin E1, which improves the microcirculation, on lumbar spinal canal stenosis associated mainly with symptoms such as neurological intermittent claudication and lower extremity pain. Methods: Oral prostaglandin E1 was given for 6 weeks to 30 patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis who did not respond to physical therapy or nerve block. Results: The mean continuous walking distance significantly increased from 132 ± 45 to 698 ± 254 m. The mean severity score of lower extremity pain, evaluated on a 11-point (0–10) verbal rating scale (VRS), significantly decreased from 7.3 ± 1.3 to 4.6 ± 2.4. Thermography revealed a significant elevation of lower extremity peripheral temperature. Conclusions: These results suggested that oral prostaglandin E1 is useful for the treatment of lumbar spinal canal stenosis.