Comparison of effects of iloprost and pentoxiphylline on walking capacity and skin oxygenation in diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease

Diabetes is in close relation with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and there are conflicting results regarding efficacy of iloprost in PAD. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of iloprost in improving walking capacity and increasing oxygenation to diseased tissues in PAD patients with diabetes, compared to pentoxiphylline. Data of 80 patients wererecorded contemporaneously. Patients were divided into two groups (Group 1: Users of iloprost and pentoxiphylline; Group 2: Users of only pentoxiphylline). O2 saturations in diseased limbs were significantly improved at three-months follow-up in both groups (both p<0.001). The difference between groups was in favor of Group 1 (p = 0.012). Maximum walking capacity was also increased significantly in both groups (both p<0.001). However, the improvements in walking distance were at similar extent (p = 0.226). In comparison with pentoxiphylline, iloprost has no superior effect on walking capacity of diabetic patients with intermittent claudication. However, iloprost improves oxygenation of tissues better than pentoxiphylline, therefore iloprost may be preferred especially in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia as an adjunctive therapy followed by pentoxiphylline or cilostazol. Usage of iloprost may contribute to the recovery of diabetic ulcers and also, it may postpone occurrence of diabetic ulcers.