Definition

Arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) is one of the most common peripheral vascular diseases that causes ischemic symptoms of the lower limbs. Symptoms include discomfort, numbness, intermittent claudication, or even gangrene and ulceration. The risk factors of ASO include age, male gender, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and hyperhomocysteinemia. There are no definitive treatments for ASO. The efficacy of surgical treatment is not satisfactory, and medication is required to maintain the postoperative vascular patency. In order to relieve symptoms such as cold sensation and intermittent claudication, drug therapy such as antiplatelet therapy and vasodilatory drugs are useful in the treatment of some patients with ASO. Adsorption of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has also been applied for the treatment of ASO. At present, the diagnosis of ASO depends on several clinical tests, such as angiography, estimations of ankle/brachial index (ABI), and pulse-wave velocity (PWV), as well as the measurement of circulating hs-CRP levels. However, these examinations can only be detectable when ASO already developed, and there was no predictable markers for ASO in its earlier stages. Recent studies have reported that some micro RNAs could be serum markers for early-stage ASO.