Ischemic cardiovascular disease is caused by poor blood flow to some parts of the body. Blood vessels can become narrowed and obstructed because of a buildup of “plaques” in the wall of the vessel. When this happens,the blood vessels of the arms and legs may become blocked, a condition known as PAD. How PAD occurs in humans is not widely understood and it can often go unnoticed until more severe issues arise. However, it is known that the reduced blood flow can cause pain and make it more difficult for protective cells in the body to travel to these areas to heal the damaged blood vessels and tissues.If not managed in a timely fashion, PAD can have some very serious consequences including a condition known as critical limb ischemia where the blood flow to a limb becomes severely restricted. People with PAD are also at a higher risk of having a myocardial infarction (also known as heart attacks) and ischemic strokes (blockage of a blood vessel that supplies the brain). Stem cells are a unique type of cell in the body that can change into different types of cells found in the body. They can repair or even replace damaged cells in the body. Researchers have found that stem cells can grow new blood vessels out of existing ones. It has also been shown that some people who have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease have reduced levels of these stem cells in their blood. The aim of this study is to find out if there is a difference in the amount of these stem cells in people with PAD compared to people without PAD.
View details on ClinicalTrials.gov
