Antithrombotic Therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease: Recent Advances

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Vascular Surgery
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) impacts over 200 million globally, causing significant morbidity, mortality, and disability.
• Antithrombotic therapy is crucial for secondary prevention in PAD, yet undertreatment is common.
• Limited high-quality trial data for PAD patients contributes to practice variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on antithrombotic agent safety and efficacy in PAD.
• To guide the integration of emerging evidence into clinical practice for PAD management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
• Analysis of safety and efficacy data for various antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents.
• Discussion of clinical practice guideline recommendations.

Main Results:

• Evidence synthesis on the benefits and risks of different antithrombotic strategies in PAD.
• Identification of gaps in current research and clinical practice.
• Discussion of emerging antithrombotic options for PAD patients.

Conclusions:

• An evidence-based approach is essential for optimizing PAD patient outcomes.
• Balancing cardiovascular and limb benefits against bleeding risks is critical in antithrombotic therapy selection.
• Further high-quality research is needed to refine treatment guidelines for PAD.