Pharmacologic management of peripheral vascular disease.
Although our understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease continues to grow, we have yet to discover a medication that can safely and efficaciously be given to most claudicants that will alleviate their symptoms to prevent disease progression. Many patients with intermittent claudication improve or remain stable without therapy if they attempt to alter their risk factors (e.g., control of diabetes, smoking cessation, lowering of cholesterol levels). However, many require concomitant drug therapy to alleviate symptoms of PVD, and some require surgical intervention. Even with the recent advances in therapeutic development and the promise of agents currently in clinical trials, the questions of who to treat, when treatment should begin, and which agent to use remain uncertain.
Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
D B
DB
McNamara
H C
HC
Champion
P J
PJ
Kadowitz
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011465:Prostaglandins, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011465:Prostaglandins, Synthetic; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline