Changing pattern of Peripheral Vascular disease in Asian countries

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is one of the common conditions that have the potential threat to limb loss or even loss of life. Peripheral vascular disease manifests as inadequate tissue perfusion caused by atherosclerosis leading to critical narrowing of the supplying vessels. The major risk factors for PVD include smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and hyperviscosity1. Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) remains an enigmatic systemic vasculitisstrangely linked to smoking; determining its occurrence, progression and prognosis. The precise mechanisms are still elusive. Except for discontinuation of tobacco use, there is no other definitive therapy2. Selective cannabinoid receptor antagonists have shown promise for helping patients to stop smoking. Prostacycline analogues may help patients with critical limb ischaemia. Recent innovative genetic and cell-based therapeutic approaches have been proposed to induce angiogenesis but they require evaluation in randomized controlled trials to confirm their beneficial effects in patients with TAO3