This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fox, J. C. Articles by Swain, J. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fox, J. C. Articles by Swain, J. L.

(Circulation. 1996;94:3065-3066.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Angiogenic Gene Therapy

A Leg to Stand On?

Jonathan C. Fox, MD, PhD; Judith L. Swain, MD

the Cardiovascular Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).

Key Words: Editorials • genes • cardiovascular disease

	Introduction

 
Gene therapy for cardiovascular disease offers some of the greatest opportunities and challenges in the growing field of molecular medicine. The challenges in this field fall into three broad categories. The first relates to our state of knowledge regarding the biology of the diseases we wish to target, which must be sufficiently advanced to identify appropriate genes as targets for manipulation. The second relates to the development of biological vector systems that are suitable for genetic modification of the cardiovascular system, combining efficiency of gene transfer, ease of preparation, and acceptable side effect profile. The third relates to gene vector delivery technologies, which must be tailored to the particular requirements of the cardiovascular system and the disease to be treated. The report by Tsurumi and colleagues¹ in this issue of Circulation takes advantage of recent progress in all three areas to demonstrate that although gene therapy for selected cardiovascular syndromes is not yet a clinical reality, it may no longer be only a distant speck on the therapeutic horizon.

Peripheral vascular disease, predominantly affecting the lower extremities, has a relatively low mortality but results in considerable morbidity and disability. Both angioplasty and reconstructive surgery are effective treatment options for many patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency, restoring adequate perfusion and resulting in the alleviation of disabling symptoms. However, these procedures are associated with considerable risks, notably restenosis after peripheral angioplasty and cardiac complications of vascular surgery. In addition, the severity and progressive nature of this disease often limit these treatment options, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. B. Buckwalter, V. C. Curtis, Z. Valic, S. B. Ruble, and P. S. Clifford Endogenous vascular remodeling in ischemic skeletal muscle: a role for nitric oxide J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2003; 94(3): 935 - 940. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Hershey, E. P. Baskin, J. D. Glass, H. A. Hartman, D. B. Gilberto, I. T. Rogers, and J. J. Cook Revascularization in the rabbit hindlimb: dissociation between capillary sprouting and arteriogenesis Cardiovasc Res, February 16, 2001; 49(3): 618 - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]