Massive thrombi are sometimes present in aortic aneurysms, which cause severe complication such as distal arterial thromboembolism, and greatly influence the prognosis. Such thrombi can be easily detected by CT scan and ultrasound. However these imaging techniques can only demonstrate the presence of thrombi, and are not able to indicate these activity. We performed ¹¹¹In-labeled-platelet scintigraphy (platelet scinti.) in 27 cases of aortic aneurysms (13 true aneurysms and 14 dissecting aneurysms) and 13 postoperative cases of dissecting aneurysms, and compared the findings of CT scan. In some cases, the findings of platelet scinti. were markedly different from the findings CT scan. And our results suggested that the radioisotope deposit revealed by platelet scinti. was reflected thrombotic activity. In one case of dissecting aneurysm, marked RI deposit was revealed by platelet scinti., and subsequently the false lumen was occluded. One postoperative case of dissecting aneurysm showed marked RI deposit and, distal arterial thromboembolism developed. ¹¹¹In-labeled-platelet scintigraphy is thought to be useful to estimate thrombotic activity in aortic aneurysm, and to predict complications and the prognosis.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of bicycle ergometer training and prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) for patients with intermittent claudication. Subjects were divided into four groups : the medication group (M), the PGE₁ group (P), the exercise group (E) and the PGE₁ and exercise group (PE). The P group was injected with 10μg of PGE₁, the E group performed bicycle ergometer exercise 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and the PE group was injected with PGE₁ and performed exercises. The maximal walking distance (MWD) was evaluated by a treadmill test. Muscle oxygenation level was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy and recovery half time (T_1/2) was calculated. MWD was significantly improved for P (142%), E (216%) and PE (240%) groups. T_1/2 was significantly improved in the E and PE groups. This study indicates that improvement of MWD was a result of development of muscle perfusion in lower limbs and PGE₁ injection may support exercise therapy.