Antithrombotic therapy in peripheral artery disease

Abstract

Antiplatelet agents are recommended for the reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events among all patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. However, the optimal antiplatelet regimen and duration of therapy in peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains unclear, largely due to limited and conflicting data in this patient population. This article reviews current data on antithrombotic therapy in PAD and discusses the implications of this data for current practice and future research.

Keywords: anticoagulants; arterial occlusive diseases; critical limb ischemia; intermittent claudication; peripheral artery disease; platelet aggregation inhibitors.