title: Contemporary medical management of peripheral arterial disease: a focus on risk reduction and symptom relief for intermittent claudication.
abstract: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is primarily caused by progressive systemic atherosclerosis manifesting in the lower extremities. This review addresses the epidemiology, clinical presentation and evaluation, and medical management of PAD, with a focus on intermittent claudication. Key advances in the recognition of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic individuals with mildly abnormal ankle-brachial index, newer reflections on exercise therapy, and a review of established and investigational agents for the treatment of symptomatic PAD, such as cilostazol, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Endovascular Intervention, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Kush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine Program, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 88 East Newton Street, Boston MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: robert.eberhardt@bmc.org.
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Eberhardt
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D000077407:Cilostazol; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077407:Cilostazol; D010431:Pentoxifylline
keywords: Ankle-brachial index; Atherosclerotic risk factors; Cilostazol; Intermittent claudication; Pentoxifylline; Peripheral arterial disease; Supervised exercise therapy