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 .
Effects of Indobufen and Pentoxifylline on Walking Capacity and Hemostasis in Patients with Intermittent Claudication: Results of Six Months of Treatment
Seventy-one patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease ( PAOD ) were r and om ized into two groups of different treatment modalities . The diagnosis of PAOD was estab lished by history of intermittent claudication , clinical examination , and by Doppler pressure assessment or lower extremity arteriography . After a three-month washout period , 35 patients ( Group 1 ) started treatment with indobufen ( 400 mg per day ) and 36 patients ( Group 2 ) with pentoxifylline ( 600 mg per day ) . Twenty-nine patients from each group completed six months of treatment . Both of the drugs significantly improved maximal and pain-free walking distances , but the effect of indobufen was more pronounced than that of pentoxifylline .  Patients with PAOD exhibited signs of hyperco agulation . Fibrinogen , D-dimer , and b-thromboglobulin concentrations did not change significantly following treatment in both of the groups . The authors observed a decrease of platelet aggregation after treatment with indobufen and a decrease of F1 + 2 fragment and PAI-1 antigen after treatment with pentoxifylline
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 .