Impact of pharmacologic interventions on peripheral artery disease

Pharmacologic interventions are an integral component of peripheral artery disease (PAD) management, supported by high-quality clinical studies. Those affected by this potentially debilitating and life-threatening disease process often have multiple contributing conditions, such as tobacco abuse, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. In addition to medications aimed at improving claudication symptoms, risk factor modification and appropriate use of antiplatelet agents are essential to decreasing rates of major adverse clinical events and improving vessel patency following intervention. While lower extremity PAD is increasingly recognized as a prevalent condition, affected individuals remain undertreated with optimal pharmacotherapy. Novel approaches to treatment of PAD include stem cell therapy, which may play a beneficial role in those with minimal revascularization options but disease placing them at high risk for limb amputation. Additionally, timely initiation of optimal pharmacotherapy represents a cost-effective approach to management of this chronic condition.