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 .
Treatment of Intermittent Claudication with Antiplatelet Agents
In a double-blind study , 296 patients with intermittent claudication ( Fontaine stage II ) were treated with 250 mg ticlopidine twice daily , 500 mg aspirin every third day plus 75 mg dipyridamole three times daily , or 300 mg xanthinol nicotinate three times daily for 6 months . Ticlopidine and aspirin/dipyridamole , but not xanthinol nicotinate , improved platelet aggregation , reduced β-thromboglobulin , platelet factor IV and fibrinopeptide A concentrations , and increased antithrombin III concentrations and red blood cell filterability . No changes in lipid profiles , platelet count or fibrinogen were recorded following any treatment . The doppler systolic blood pressure ratio was improved in patients treated with ticlopidine or aspirin/dipyridamole , but not with xanthinol nicotinate . It is concluded that antiplatelet treatment is useful for the treatment of limb arteriopathy
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 .