Peripheral arterial disease.
BACKGROUND
Up to 20% of adults aged over 55 years have detectable peripheral arterial disease of the legs, but this may cause symptoms of intermittent claudication in only a small proportion of affected people. The main risk factors are smoking and diabetes mellitus, but other risk factors for cardiovascular disease are also associated with peripheral arterial disease.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of treatments for people with chronic peripheral arterial disease? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and other important databases up to December 2006. (BMJ Clinical evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).


RESULTS
We found 55 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: antiplatelet agents, bypass surgery, cilostazol, exercise, pentoxifylline, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, prostaglandins, smoking cessation, statins.
Cassar
Kevin
K
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK.
D017130:Angioplasty; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000188:drug therapy
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors