Medical Optimization of Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive disease associated with the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events, and elevated mortality rates. Symptoms of PAD, including claudication and chronic limb threatening ischemia, impair functional capacity and lead to lower quality of life. The focus of current therapies is to minimize symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Among the medical therapies are antiplatelets, anticoagulants, antihypertensives, cilostazol and pentoxifylline, and novel blood sugar-lowering therapies, plus exercise therapy and smoking cessation. In this review, we discuss these evidence-based medical therapies that are available for patients with symptomatic PAD.