Antiplatelet agents have a beneficial effect in reducing all cause mortality and fatal cardiovascular events in patients with IC .
BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) is common and is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis .
Patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication ( IC ) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events ( myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) and stroke ) and of both cardiovascular and all cause mortality .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of antiplatelet agents in reducing mortality ( all cause and cardiovascular ) and cardiovascular events in patients with intermittent claudication .
Clopidogrel added to aspirin versus aspirin alone in secondary prevention and high-risk primary prevention: rationale and design of the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance (CHARISMA) trial.
BACKGROUND Clopidogrel is a more potent antiplatelet agent than aspirin , result ing in greater clinical efficacy in patients with atherothrombotic disease . Furthermore , the combination of clopidogrel plus aspirin has been demonstrated to be superior to aspirin alone in the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes and after coronary stenting . Whether dual antiplatelet therapy is superior to aspirin monotherapy for high-risk primary prevention and secondary prevention is unknown . METHODS AND RESULTS The Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization , Management , and Avoidance ( CHARISMA ) study was design ed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel plus aspirin versus placebo plus aspirin in patients with established coronary , cerebral , or peripheral arterial disease or in patients with multiple risk factors for atherothrombosis who have not yet sustained an ischemic event . This r and omized , international , multicenter , double-blinded , placebo-controlled study has finished enrolling patients worldwide . A total of 15,603 patients will be followed long term . The primary end point will be the composite of vascular death , myocardial infa rct ion , or stroke . Rates of severe bleeding will also be compared between the two arms of the study . CONCLUSIONS This large-scale trial of patients at high risk for atherothrombotic events will allow determination of the value of a strategy of adding clopidogrel to the current st and ard of care , including low-dose aspirin , for a wide spectrum of patients with atherothrombosis
Antiplatelet agents have a beneficial effect in reducing all cause mortality and fatal cardiovascular events in patients with IC .
BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) is common and is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis .
Patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication ( IC ) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events ( myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) and stroke ) and of both cardiovascular and all cause mortality .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of antiplatelet agents in reducing mortality ( all cause and cardiovascular ) and cardiovascular events in patients with intermittent claudication .