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 .
Long-Term Evaluation of Indobufen in Peripheral Vascular Disease
Indobufen — an inhibitor of platelets aggregation — has been used in 306 pa tients with intermittent claudication due to peripheral vascular disease . Patients were treated and followed up for one year . One patient of every 3 treated with indobufen was treated with ASA , and a control group of patients receiving no treatment was also followed up . The authors studied by means of a treadmill exercise test the  pain-free walking distance ( PFWD ) , the global walking distance ( GWD ) , and the recovery time after exercise . The treatment period was com pleted by 290 patients : 204 claudicants , 51 claudicants with diabetes , and 35 with a short PFWD and GWD ( > 150 m ) .  Indobufen was more effective than ASA in improving the PFWD and GWD in all groups . There were also fewer side effects with indobufen , and cardiac morbidity and mortality was also reduced . In conclusion indobufen showed its activity and safety in chronic treatment of patients with peripheral disease , and we suggest that it may be used for long periods without side effects
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 .