Improved Quality of Life After 1 Year With an Invasive Versus a Noninvasive Treatment Strategy in Claudicants: One-Year Results of the Invasive Revascularization or Not in Intermittent Claudication (IRONIC) Trial

Modern possibilities and prospects of conservative treatment of patients with peripheral arterial diseases

The most common clinical manifestation of peripheral arterial disease is intermittent claudication due to insufficient blood supply to the affected limb. The article summarizes and systematizes the latest achievements in the field of conservative treatment of patients with intermittent claudication. In accordance with the requirements of evidence-based medicine, an overview of modern promising trends in conservative therapy presented in the latest Russian and foreign consensus documents, is given. The basis of the complex treatment of patients with peripheral arterial diseases is: non-drug and drug treatment to relieve the symptoms of chronic ischemia, pharmacotherapy for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular complications, open or endovascular revascularization to increase the distance of painfree walking. With the development of atherosclerosis, disturbances in the peptide composition of the endothelium occur, which reduce the ability of the vascular wall to resist inflammation and the associated triggering of pathological processes. It has been experimentally proven that the use of a complex of peptides obtained from the vessels of healthy and young animals in this situation restores the endothelial function of the arteries, affecting the main links of pathogenesis. Decrease in oxidative stress, decrease in atherogenic and lipidemic action, normalization of vascular tone and blood coagulation parameters, increase in the microvascular bed – these are the mechanisms that justify the indication of peptides to patients with atherosclerosis obliterans. Angioprotector based on a complex of polypeptides isolated from blood vessels can become an important part of the treatment of patients with obliterating diseases of the arteries of the lower extremities, providing a complex pathogenetic effect. It is necessary to further study in multicenter clinical trials the duration of the therapeutic effect of a drug in a longer period after a course of treatment, its effect on long-term outcomes of the disease, the possibility of using repeated courses, in chronic obliterating diseases of the arteries of the lower extremities III-IV stages according to the Fontaine classification, as well as the use drug for the treatment of systemic atherosclerosis of various arterial basins.

Diagnosis and Management of Peripheral Artery Diseases

Распространенность заболеваний периферических артерий (ЗПА) во всем мире достигает порядка 200 миллионов человек. Самым частым клиническим проявлением ЗПА является перемежающая хромота, возникающая вследствие недостаточного кровоснабжения пораженной конечности. В настоящем обзоре литературы обобщены и систематизированы последние достижения в области диагностики и лечения пациентов с перемежающей хромотой. Тщательный сбор анамнеза и физикальное обследование являются первоочередными мероприятиями для установления предварительного диагноза и направлены на дифференциацию сосудистых и нейрогенных причин перемежающей хромоты. Лодыжечно-плечевой индекс относится к наиболее часто используемым методам скрининга и диагностики ЗПА. Основу лечения составляют четыре взаимодополняющих подхода: немедикаментозное и лекарственное лечение для купирования симптомов хронической ишемии, фармакотерапия для вторичной профилактики сердечно-сосудистых осложнений, открытая или эндоваскулярная реваскуляризация для увеличения дистанции безболевой ходьбы. Недавнее исследование COMPASS продемонстрировало преимущества комбинированного применения 2,5 мг ривароксабана дважды в день и аспирина в части снижения уровня неблагоприятных сердечно-сосудистых событий, при этом отмечался более высокий риск геморрагических осложнений. На сегодняшний день цилостазол является единственным препаратом, обладающим доказанной терапевтической эффективностью в отношении перемежающей хромоты. Программы лечебной физкультуры под наблюдением врача либо в домашних условиях способствуют улучшению коллатерального кровообращения и увеличивают дистанцию ходьбы без боли. Назначение высоких доз статинов и антитромбоцитарных препаратов абсолютно обосновано всем пациентам с ЗПА. Ингибиторы ангиотензин-превращающего фермента обеспечивают дополнительное снижение кардиоваскулярных рисков, в особенности у пациентов с сахарным диабетом и артериальной гипертензией.

The prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) worldwide reaches about 200 million people. The most frequent clinical manifestation of PAD is intermittent claudication, which occurs due to insufficient blood supply to the affected limb. This literature review summarizes and systematizes recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with intermittent claudication.Thorough case history collection and physical examination are the primary measures for making a preliminary diagnosis, which is aimed at differentiating the vascular and neurogenic causes of intermittent claudication. The ankle-shoulder index is one of the most commonly used methods for screening and diagnosing PAD. The basis of treatment consists of four complementary approaches: non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment for the relief of symptoms of chronic ischemia, pharmacotherapy for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular complications, open or endovascular revascularization to increase the distance of pain-free walking. A recent COMPASS study demonstrated the benefits of combining 2.5 mg of rivaroxaban twice daily with aspirin in reducing adverse cardiovascular events, however there was a higher risk of hemorrhagic complications. Today, cilostazol is the only drug with proven therapeutic effectiveness against intermittent claudication. Physical therapy programs under the supervision of a doctor or at home help to improve collateral blood circulation and increase the walking distance without pain. The administration of high doses of statins and antiplatelet drugs is absolutely justified in all patients with PAD. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors provide an additional reduction in cardiovascular risks, especially in patients with diabetes and hypertension.

How To Assess a Claudication and When To Intervene

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects close to 200 million people worldwide. Claudication is the most common presenting symptom for patients with PAD. This review summarizes the current diagnostic and treatment options for patients with claudication. Comprehensive history and physical examination in order to differentiate between claudication secondary to vascular disease vs. neurogenic causes is paramount for initial diagnosis. Ankle-brachial index is the most commonly used test for screening and diagnostic purposes. Treatment consists of four different approaches, which are best utilized in combination: non-pharmacological treatment for claudication improvement, pharmacological treatment for claudication improvement, pharmacological treatment for secondary risk reduction, and interventional treatment for claudication improvement.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cilostazol is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agent for symptomatic treatment of claudication. Supervised exercise programs provide the maximum benefit for claudication improvement, but home-based exercise programs are an alternative. High-intensity statins and an antiplatelet agent should be prescribed to all patients with PAD. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors can provide additional risk reduction, especially in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Rivaroxaban of low dosage (2.5 mg twice daily) in combination with aspirin further decreases cardiovascular risk, but this reduction comes at the cost of higher bleeding risk. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a form of atherosclerotic disease that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide-one of its most common manifestations is intermittent claudication (IC), which results from insufficient blood flow to meet the metabolic demands of an affected extremity. This paper reviews the current literature regarding the workup, diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, treatment options, and management of intermittent claudication.