Intra-arterial histamine in the treatment of occlusive peripheral arterial disease.

Intra-arterial histamine was found to increase significantly the walking tolerance of a small series of cases of obliterative peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication. Physiologic determinations during injection show tachycardia, increased cardiac output, increased stroke volume and increased homolateral femoral arteriovenous oxygen difference. The similarity of these results to those caused by arteriovenous fistulas is noted.