Novel Treatment of Intermittent Claudication in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease Using Danshen Gegen (D&G) Capsule

Summary

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) due to lower limb arterial blockages affects significant proportion of the population with an age-adjusted prevalence of approximately 12%. Claudication induced walking impairment can be debilitating and adversely affects social, leisure, and occupational activities in many patients and is associated with higher mortality among PAD patients. Unfortunately, very few effective therapies are available to improve leg symptoms and exercise performance in PAD patients. Surgery is the last resort but results vary. Therefore, there is a large unmet need for medical therapies that can improve long-term walking performance and functional capacity in PAD patients. Danshen and Gegen (D\&G) are commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. D\&G study has been extensively researched and continued at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for their antioxidative and vasodilator properties, modulate anti-atherosclerosis and improve arthrogenic athophysiology. Three randomized trials were completed at the CUHK showing D\&G improved lipid profile, vascular function and thinned down the internal layer of the carotid artery. One may expect the same with lower limb arteries. Extensive clinical experiences of use in China and Hong Kong indicated that D\&G are well tolerated and safe. This project is a randomized control trial to determine the efficacy and Safety of D\&G in improving the functional capacity \& QoL in patients with symptomatic PAD. The results of this study have the potential to change local and international practice in providing a much needed therapeutic option in the treatment of PAD.

Timeline

Start

2015-10-28

Primary completion

2017-06-02

Completion

2017-06-02

Publications

• Background Criqui MH, Fronek A, Barrett-Connor E, Klauber MR, Gabriel S, Goodman D. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in a defined population. Circulation. 1985 Mar;71(3):510-5. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.71.3.510.
• Background Kannel WB, McGee DL. Update on some epidemiologic features of intermittent claudication: the Framingham Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1985 Jan;33(1):13-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1985.tb02853.x.
• Background McDermott MM, Greenland P, Liu K, Guralnik JM, Celic L, Criqui MH, Chan C, Martin GJ, Schneider J, Pearce WH, Taylor LM, Clark E. The ankle brachial index is associated with leg function and physical activity: the Walking and Leg Circulation Study. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Jun 18;136(12):873-83. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-12-200206180-00008.
• Background McDermott MM, Liu K, Greenland P, Guralnik JM, Criqui MH, Chan C, Pearce WH, Schneider JR, Ferrucci L, Celic L, Taylor LM, Vonesh E, Martin GJ, Clark E. Functional decline in peripheral arterial disease: associations with the ankle brachial index and leg symptoms. JAMA. 2004 Jul 28;292(4):453-61. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.4.453.
• Background Hirsch AT, Haskal ZJ, Hertzer NR, Bakal CW, Creager MA, Halperin JL, Hiratzka LF, Murphy WR, Olin JW, Puschett JB, Rosenfield KA, Sacks D, Stanley JC, Taylor LM Jr, White CJ, White J, White RA, Antman EM, Smith SC Jr, Adams CD, Anderson JL, Faxon DP, Fuster V, Gibbons RJ, Hunt SA, Jacobs AK, Nishimura R, Ornato JP, Page RL, Riegel B; American Association for Vascular Surgery; Society for Vascular Surgery; Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions; Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology; Society of Interventional Radiology; ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease; American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Society for Vascular Nursing; TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus; Vascular Disease Foundation. ACC/AHA 2005 Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease (lower extremity, renal, mesenteric, and abdominal aortic): a collaborative report from the American Association for Vascular Surgery/Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology, Society of Interventional Radiology, and the ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease): endorsed by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Society for Vascular Nursing; TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus; and Vascular Disease Foundation. Circulation. 2006 Mar 21;113(11):e463-654. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.174526. No abstract available.
• Background Chan YL, Woo KS, Leung PC, Fung KP. Traditional Chinese medicine Danshen-Gegen combination formula improves atherogenic pathophysiology: an in-vitro and ex-vivo study. Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology. 2006;14:28.
• Background Tam LWY, Chook, P, Poon PYK, Qiao M, Chan LLT, Cheung ASP, Chan TYK,Fung KP, Tang KSL, Lau VKM, Koon JCM, Leung PC, Celemajer DS, Woo KS. Danshen and Gegen as cardiovascular tonic in coronary patients: a novel strategy for secondary atherosclerosis prevention. Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology. 2004;12:32.
• Background McDermott MM, Greenland P, Liu K, Guralnik JM, Criqui MH, Dolan NC, Chan C, Celic L, Pearce WH, Schneider JR, Sharma L, Clark E, Gibson D, Martin GJ. Leg symptoms in peripheral arterial disease: associated clinical characteristics and functional impairment. JAMA. 2001 Oct 3;286(13):1599-606. doi: 10.1001/jama.286.13.1599.

Drugs

Indications