Updates in antithrombotic therapy in coronary and peripheral artery disease

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) encompasses a spectrum of vascular conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), which frequently coexist. In the setting of ASCVD, there is a common underlying pathophysiology for acute ischemic events related to platelet activation and thrombin generation. The scope of this review focuses on the role of dual-pathway inhibition, the approach combining antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy, for improvement in cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ASCVD. To determine which patients with CAD and PAD may benefit from dual-pathway inhibition, a brief overview of clinical presentations for both stable CAD and the spectrum of lower extremity PAD is outlined.