Latest developments in antithrombotic therapy in patients with lower extremity arterial disease

Abstract

Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is one of the manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis causing the narrowing in the vessels of the lower limbs. Clinically it can go from an asymptomatic plaque to intermittent claudication to critical limb ischemia, the most severe clinical manifestation. LEAD is associated with increased risk of other cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The treatment of LEAD consists mainly in revascularization either by bypass surgery or endovascular procedures. Medical treatment also plays a major role at all stages of the disease. Amongst medical therapy anti-thrombotics are widely used for prevention of cardiovascular risk, in the prevention of re-stenosis/re-occlusion following surgical or endovascular revascularization and for symptom improvement.