Clinical trials with defibrotide in vascular disorders

Defibrotide has been evaluated in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs, with coronary artery disease (CAD), and with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). In PAD patients, defibrotide improved physical performance, restored deficient fibrinolysis, and affected rheology and blood flow. Further events-oriented trials are needed. For CAD patients, defibrotide could be applicable as an adjunct treatment following thrombolysis, instead of heparin. Defibrotide does not increase bleeding risk. There is a need to study other medications together with defibrotide for their synergistic effects. In patients with RP, defibrotide restored deficient fibrinolysis, but its true clinical potential needs to be assessed.