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 .
[The clinico-instrumental evaluation of the efficacy of picotamide in treating chronic obstructive arteriopathies of the lower extremities].
In 25 patients ( 19 males and 6 females ) suffering from chronic arteriopathy of lower extremities at Fontaine stage II , the clinical efficacy of picotamide was investigated in double blind , cross over placebo-controlled study . Patients were assigned r and omly to the treatment with placebo or picotamide ( 900 mg/die ) for three months and , after 15 days of wash-out , to the treatment with picotamide or placebo for the same period . Painfree walking distance and ankle/arm systolic pressure ratio improved significantly only during picotamide treatment . Laboratory monitoring revealed a significant decrease in platelet aggregation and an increase of fibrinogen degradation products only during picotamide treatment . Three patients during picotamide treatment referred transient gastrointestinal discomfort ( nausea , vomiting and diarrhoea ) ; however in no case the treatment was suspended because of the appearance of these symptoms . These results indicate that picotamide is an effective drug in the management of chronic arteriopathy of lower extremities
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 .