title: Integrative therapy in patients with intermittent claudication.
abstract: The generally accepted first-line treatment in patients with intermittent claudication is risk factor modification, medical treatment and exercise training. In an era of reduced resources, the benefit of any further invasive intervention must be weighted against best conservative therapy for patients with claudication. According to some recent trials an integrative therapeutic concept combining best conservative treatment - including (supervised) exercise therapy - with endovascular therapy gives the best midterm results concerning walking distance and health-related quality of life. The improved mid- and long-term patency rate with use of modern technology further supports this concept. The conservative and interventional treatment strategy are more complimentary than competitive. The current main challenge is to overcome the economic barriers concerning the availability of exercise programmes.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Clinic Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minar
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
keywords: Peripheral arterial disease; endovascular treatment; exercise training; intermittent claudication