Peripheral Arterial Disease

Risk factors for atherosclerosis should be identified and reduced in all patients who have peripheral arterial disease. Cessation of smoking, strict control of diabetes and hypertension, and aggressive reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level result in a slowdown of disease progression and a reduction in cardiovascular events. Unless contraindicated, all patients with peripheral arterial disease should receive antiplatelet therapy. New pharmacologic therapies are emerging, but supervised exercise rehabilitation is the most effective medical therapy to restore pain-free walking for patients with intermittent claudication. Patients with symptoms that limit their lifestyles may benefit from elective invasive revascularization. Symptoms consistent with limb-threatening ischemia (such as rest pain) or a foot ulcer that does not heal (especially in a patient with diabetes) requires immediate attention and possibly revascularization.