[Antiplatelet therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD)]

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is not an uncommon but a commonly neglected condition by many medical practitioners. Its prevalence steadily increases with age. In Germany almost one fifth of the patients aged > 65 years suffer from it. With increasing life expectancy the prevalence of PAD seems to be on the increase. PAD is a manifestation of diffuse and severe atherosclerosis. A very strong association exists between PAD and other atherosclerotic disorders such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). PAD is an independent predictor of high mortality in patients with CAD. Smoking, diabetes mellitus and advancing age are the cardinal risk factors. A relatively small number of PAD patients lose limbs by amputation. Most patients with PAD die of either heart attacks or strokes and they die of the former conditions far earlier than controls. Numerous authors have reported activation of the coagulatory system in PAD, possibly because of the diffuse pattern of the disease. Platelet hyperactivity in PAD may play a role in the process that leads to complications and disease progression. Thus, antiplatelet treatment in these patients may be essential to reduce their high mortality rate. Antiplatelet therapy for prevention of secondary vascular events is the cornerstone of pharmacological intervention in PAD. Based on current evidence, treating patients with PAD with antiplatelet drugs appears to be effective in reducing the risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events, in maintaining arterial and graft patency, and in slowing progression of disease. On the other hand, several studies indicated, that platelets in patients with PAD are relatively aspirin-resistant. The data from the CAPRIE Trial suggest a clinically and statistically significant better risk reduction with clopidogrel than with aspirin in patients with PAD. Aspirin alone should no longer be considered the optimal therapy for PAD.