Effect of administration of lipoprostaglandin E1 on physical activity and bone resorption in patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication

Abstract

The effect of the systemic administration of prostaglandin (PG) E1 on physical activity and bone resorption was examined in patients with intermittent claudication (gait disturbance). Twenty male patients (age, 67.2 ± 7.8 years; mean ± SD) with neurogenic intermittent claudication caused by lumbar spinal canal stenosis were included in the study. Lipo-PG E1 was administered intravenously, at a daily dose of 10 µg, on 3 days a week, for 6 months in all patients. Clinical symptoms, levels of urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx), and metacarpal cortical bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed before and just after the 6 months of treatment. Subjective symptoms, including leg pain and/or tingling and gait disturbance, and restrictions of the activities of daily living were significantly improved. However, no significant changes were observed in either urinary NTx levels or metacarpal cortical BMD. These findings suggest that the systemic administration of PG E1 appears to improve subjective symptoms and activities of daily living in elderly male patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication, but does not affect either bone resorption or metacarpal cortical BMD. Short-term systemic administration of PG E1 and increased physical activity in elderly male patients with gait disturbance caused by lumbar spinal canal stenosis may not affect bone resorption.