Role of Cell Therapy for Patients with Chronic Critical Limb Ischemia to Prevent Amputation

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition where lumen of peripheral arteries are interrupted, narrowed or completely blocked. Reasons of PAD are Buerger's disease (Thromboangitis Obliterans, TAO), Atherosclerotic Obliterans (ASO) and connective tissue diseases. Additionally, ASO could be due to hypertension, hyperlipidemia and/or diabetes mellitus. Interruption of blood supply of peripheral arteries is a reason of ischemia. Severe rest pain and/or ulcerations of ischemic limbs are defined as the state of chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI). In patients with PAD with chronic CLI, surgical bypass and percutaneous trans-luminal angioplasty and combination with pharmacological therapy are options for revascularization and improvement in limb ischemic symptoms. Patients with no other conventional treatment option must undergo amputation. Of note, PAD with chronic CLI is the leading cause of amputation among the patients age over 50 years, and accounts for 90% of amputation worldwide.