Peripheral arterial disease—a different kind of arterial disease? The role of antiplatelet therapy in the prevention and treatment of limb ischemia

Abstract Purpose Evidence on the use of antithrombotic pharmacotherapy in patients undergoing revascularization of lower extremities for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is reviewed. Summary Individuals with PAD can experience leg pain, intermittent claudication, critical limb ischemia, and acute limb ischemia. In such patients, revascularization may be indicated to improve the quality of life and to prevent amputations. Antithrombotic therapy is often intensified in the postrevascularization period to prevent restenosis of the index artery and to counteract the prothrombotic state induced by the intervention. Therapeutic modalities include dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), anticoagulation, a combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, and addition of cilostazol to single antiplatelet therapy. Subgroup analyses of data from randomized clinical trials provided low-quality evidence for the use of DAPT in patients with a below-knee prosthetic bypass graft and anticoagulation for those with a venous bypass graft. Cilostazol, when added to aspirin therapy, has been shown to prevent index vessel reocclusion after an endovascular intervention in patients at low risk for thrombosis in several small randomized trials. Conclusion There is a considerable paucity of high-quality evidence on the optimal antithrombotic regimen for patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization, with no particular therapy shown to consistently improve patient outcomes. The decision to initiate intensified antithrombotic therapy should include a close examination of its risk–benefit profile. The demonstrated benefit of such treatment is restricted to the prevention of index artery reocclusion, while an increased risk of bleeding may lead to significant morbidity and mortality.

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Antiplatelet Therapy for Peripheral Arterial Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics ◽

10.1177/1074248414545126 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 144-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Amir Azarbal ◽

Leonardo Clavijo ◽

Michael A. Gaglia

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Critical Limb Ischemia ◽

Limb Ischemia ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Peripheral Arterial

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Role of antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular disease III: Peripheral arterial disease

Current Medical Research and Opinion ◽

10.1185/030079904x10683 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

pp. 1851-1855 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jeffrey J. Cavendish ◽

Michael Safani

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Peripheral Arterial

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Oral Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Therapy for Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Journal of Vascular Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.jvs.2021.04.009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 336

Author(s):

T. Tang ◽

M. Zhang ◽

L. Wendong ◽

N. Hu ◽

X. Du ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Oral Anticoagulant ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Peripheral Arterial

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The Role of Circulating Biomarkers in Peripheral Arterial Disease

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073601 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3601

Author(s):

Goren Saenz-Pipaon ◽

Esther Martinez-Aguilar ◽

Josune Orbe ◽

Arantxa González Miqueo ◽

Leopoldo Fernandez-Alonso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Cardiac Damage ◽

Thrombotic Occlusion ◽

Medical Treatments ◽

Peripheral Arterial ◽

Inflammatory Molecules

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower extremities is a chronic illness predominantly of atherosclerotic aetiology, associated to traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. It is one of the most prevalent CV conditions worldwide in subjects >65 years, estimated to increase greatly with the aging of the population, becoming a severe socioeconomic problem in the future. The narrowing and thrombotic occlusion of the lower limb arteries impairs the walking function as the disease progresses, increasing the risk of CV events (myocardial infarction and stroke), amputation and death. Despite its poor prognosis, PAD patients are scarcely identified until the disease is advanced, highlighting the need for reliable biomarkers for PAD patient stratification, that might also contribute to define more personalized medical treatments. In this review, we will discuss the usefulness of inflammatory molecules, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and cardiac damage markers, as well as novel components of the liquid biopsy, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and non-coding RNAs for lower limb PAD identification, stratification, and outcome assessment. We will also explore the potential of machine learning methods to build prediction models to refine PAD assessment. In this line, the usefulness of multimarker approaches to evaluate this complex multifactorial disease will be also discussed.

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P6: ANTIPLATELET AND ANTICOAGULANT USE IN RANDOMISED TRIALS OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING ENDOVASCULAR INTERVENTION FOR PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

British Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1093/bjs/znab117.091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

MI Qureshi ◽

HL Li ◽

GK Ambler ◽

KHF Wong ◽

S Dawson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy ◽

Arterial Intervention ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Endovascular Intervention ◽

Randomised Trials ◽

Peripheral Arterial ◽

High Level

Abstract Introduction Guideline recommendations for antithrombotic (antiplatelet and anticoagulant) therapy during and after endovascular intervention are patchy and conflicted, in part due to a lack of evidence. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the antithrombotic specifications in randomised trials for peripheral arterial endovascular intervention. Method This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Randomised trials including participants with peripheral arterial disease undergoing endovascular arterial intervention were included. Trial methods were assessed to determine whether an antithrombotic protocol had been specified, its completeness, and the agent(s) prescribed. Antithrombotic protocols were classed as periprocedural (preceding/during intervention), immediate postprocedural (up to 14 days following intervention) and maintenance postprocedural (therapy continuing beyond 14 days). Trials were stratified according to type of intervention. Result Ninety-four trials were included. Only 29% of trials had complete periprocedural antithrombotic protocols, and 34% had complete post-procedural protocols. In total, 64 different periprocedural protocols, and 51 separate postprocedural protocols were specified. Antiplatelet monotherapy and unfractionated heparin were the most common choices of regimen in the periprocedural setting, and dual antiplatelet therapy (55%) was most commonly utilised postprocedure. There is an increasing tendency to use dual antiplatelet therapy with time or for drug-coated technologies. Conclusion Randomised trials comparing different types of peripheral endovascular arterial intervention have a high level of heterogeneity in their antithrombotic regimens, and there has been an increasing tendency to use dual antiplatelet therapy over time. Antiplatelet regimes need to be standardised in trials comparing endovascular technologies. Take-home message To determine the benefits of any endovascular intervention within a randomised trial, antithrombotic regimens should be standardised to prevent confounding. This systematic review demonstrates a high level of heterogeneity of antithrombotic prescribing in randomised trials of endovascular intervention, and an increasing tendency to utilise dual antiplatelet therapy, despite a lack of evidence of benefit, but an increased risk of harm.

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