Treatment and prognosis
The treatment options for a patient with the cholesterol emboli syndrome are limited:
- multiple treatment regimens have been generally unsuccessful in altering the course of the disease process
- most significant impact on the disease can be made by its prevention
- thrombolytic and anticoagulant treatments are not indicated and only supportive care for such symptoms as hypertension, ulceration, and gangrene is advocated (1)
- amputation of affected lower limb may be necessary; an end-diastolic pneumatic boot has been used as an alternative to amputation (2)
Prognosis depends on the extent of the systemic disease and a high rate of mortality (75-80%) is recorded due to multifactorial, cardiac, and renal aetiologies
Notes:
- statins may help to stabilise atheromatous plaques
- steroids have previously been used to attempt to reduce the inflammatory component
Reference:
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