Open AccessPeripheral artery disease – necessary steps for keeping us walking
Author(s) -
Camelia Cristina Diaconu,
Irina Crîşmaru,
G. Dediu,
Alice Bãlãceanu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
romanian journal of medical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2069-6108
pISSN - 1842-8258
DOI - 10.37897/rjmp.2015.3.4
Subject(s) - cilostazol , medicine , arterial disease , aspirin , intermittent claudication , clopidogrel , peripheral , cardiology , claudication , diabetes mellitus , ankle , surgery , vascular disease , endocrinology
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a consequence of the atherosclerosis of large arteries located distal to aortic arch. The most common symptom is intermittent claudication. The most commonly used screening tool of BAP in primary care is the ankle-brachial index (ABI), especially recommended for patients older than 70 years or between 50-69 years, if they are diabetics or smokers. Management of PAD include smoking cessation, exercise, treatment with statins, antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel, possibly cilostazol in patients without heart failure. Surgery is recommended for patients who do not respond to drug therapy.