Pharmacologic therapy for peripheral arterial disease and claudication

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis that is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular mortality and significant limitation in function because of limb ischemia. Patients with PAD should be considered to have significant coronary and cerebral arterial disease that requires aggressive risk factor management, including the prescription of antiplatelet drugs, to lower the subsequent risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death. In the population with PAD, level 1 and level 2 evidence supports the use of statin drugs for lipid management, angiotensin-converting enzyme-1 inhibitors for blood pressure control, and aspirin or clopidogrel as antiplatelet agents. Once this is accomplished, the severity of limb symptoms should be assessed, and a structured exercise program or the selected use of drugs such as cilostazol to treat claudication should be prescribed. In patients primarily considered for surgical treatment, antiplatelet and anticoagulant drug therapy can be used as a means of promoting graft patency, and beta-adrenergic blockers can be used as a means of reducing the perioperative risks associated with vascular surgery.