NAPE Q & A

click to listen (520 KB)

By Berthold Struk, MD

Question A 60-year-old male PXE patient was recently informed that he has small vessel disease in his heart and stomach. He asks, ÒWhat is small vessel disease and what impact will it have?Ó

Answer As the term Òsmall vessel diseaseÓ implies, it means arteriosclerosis of small arteries within a major arterial supply bed. The important implication of this term is that small vessel disease is not treatable by interventional techniques (balloon, laser, stent, etc.) and it might only be treatable by certain drugs (nitrates, calcium antagonists, etc.). It might be responsible for certain symptoms of patients like angina pectoris of the heart, angina abdominalis (intestinal cramps one to two hours after a meal), or intermittent claudication of the legs (muscle cramps in the calf or foot of patients after a certain walking distance that is relieved after stopping the exercise).


By Kenneth. H. Neldner, MD

Question A NAPE member experiencing a stubborn ear infection for the past two years asks, ÒHas anyone seen ear problems related to PXE?Ó

Answer Ear infections are not directly a complication of PXE. A culture and sensitivity study should show an antibiotic that would clear it up in a week or two. A serious problem should be diagnosed by an otologist. This will usually be an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor.

______________________________

If you have any questions you would like answered in upcoming issues of PXE Awareness, please write to us at NAPE 8760 Manchester Rd., St. Louis, MO 63144-2724

Or email us at NAPEStLouis@sbcglobal.net

Also, if you have had any unusual experiences with PXE - good or bad - we would love to hear from you. It is important for us to learn from each others' experiences, since most physicians know so little about PXE. Write to us or call us and we'll write your story.