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 .
Controlled trial of high-versus low-dose aspirin treatment after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in patients with peripheral vascular disease
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of aortoiliac and femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions can provide long-lasting hemodynamic improvement . High-dose aspirin is commonly prescribed as reocclusion prophylaxis , but low doses would be preferable because of fewer adverse effects . We performed a double-blind , r and omized , controlled clinical trial in patients with peripheral vascular disease with lesions appropriate for angioplasty . We compared the efficacy and side effects of two doses of aspirin ( 50 mg vs. 900 mg daily ) during a period of 12 months after angioplasty .  A total of 359 patients were evaluated : 175 were r and omly assigned to treatment with 900 mg aspirin daily and 184 to 50 mg aspirin a day . Thirty-nine patients developed restenosis at the angioplasty site ; the cumulative percentage of event-free survival after 1 year ( patency rate ) was 85 % in the 900-mg group and 84 % in the 50-mg group . An equivalence test showed the two groups equivalent with respect to restenosis rates ( P = 0.003 for an equivalence region of < 10 % difference ) . Nine patients ( 5 % ) in the 900-mg group had serious gastrointestinal side effects ( peptic ulcer , eight ; erosive gastritis requiring transfusion , one ) compared to two ( peptic ulcer ) in the 50-mg group ( P = 0.03 ) . The results of our study show that a dose of 50 mg aspirin a day is as effective as one of 900 mg for the prevention of restenoses after lower limb angioplasty , and that severe gastrointestinal side effects are less frequent
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 .