title: Medical treatment of peripheral vascular disease: good or bad?
abstract: The majority of patients with intermittent claudication are treated conservatively; smoking must be stopped and exercise therapy commenced. There are various classes of drugs that are widely prescribed for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. In this editorial the medical treatment of peripheral vascular disease is claimed to achieve at least one of three goals: (1) improvement of the functional capability; (2) inhibition of the progression of the atherosclerotic and anatomical lesions; (3) reduction of the cardiac and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Guidelines are given for well controlled trials for newly developed drugs for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease in the future.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duprez
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents