['Blood monocytes are the precursors of the lipid-laden foam cells that are the hallmark of early atherosclerotic lesions, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays important roles in their recruitment to the vessel wall. In this study, we measured serum levels of MCP-1 in patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD) and investigated whether intravenous prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) treatment, which produces clinical benefits in PAOD, might decrease such levels.', 'Eight patients with PAOD at Fontaine stage II to IV were treated with a daily intravenous infusion of 10 microg of PGE1 for 7 consecutive days. Blood samples before and after 7-day PGE1 treatment were used for assays of MCP-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and endothelin-1 (ET-1).', 'Serum MCP-1 levels in patients with PAOD were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects (263.8 +/- 52.8 vs 136.5 +/- 15.0 pg/mL, P =.002). PGE1 administration for 7 days resulted in a significant decrease in the MCP-1 level, from 263.8 +/- 52.8 to 196.1 +/- 25.5 pg/mL (P =.02), whereas levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, and ET-1 and the activity of vWF were not affected.'] Does intravenous prostaglandin E1 reduce monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels in peripheral arterial obstructive disease?