Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Usama Talib, BSc, MD [2]
2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease[1]
Recommendations for Medical Therapy for the Patient With PAD
Recommendations for Antiplatelet Agents
Class I
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"1.Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin alone (range 75–325 mg per day) or clopidogrel alone (75 mg per day) is recommended to reduce MI, stroke, and vascular death
in patients with symptomatic PAD (139-142).(Level of Evidence: B-NR)"
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Class IIa
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"1. In asymptomatic patients with PAD (ABI ≤0.90), antiplatelet therapy is reasonable to reduce the risk of MI, stroke, or vascular death (Level of Evidence: C-EO)"
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Class IIb
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"1. In asymptomatic patients with borderline ABI (0.91–0.99), the usefulness of antiplatelet therapy to reduce the risk of MI, stroke, or vascular death is uncertain (Level of Evidence: B-R)"
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"2. The effectiveness of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (aspirin and clopidogrel) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular ischemic events in patients with symptomatic
PAD is not well established(Level of Evidence: B-R)"
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"3. DAPT(aspirin and clopidogrel) may be reasonable to reduce the risk of limb related events in patients with symptomatic PAD after lower extremity revascularization(Level of Evidence: C-LD)"
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"4. The overall clinical benefit of vorapaxar added to existing antiplatelet therapy in patients with symptomatic PAD is uncertain (Level of Evidence: B-R)"
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Recommendation for Statin Agents
Recommendations for Antihypertensive Agents
Class I
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"1. Antihypertensive therapy should be administered to patients with hypertension and PAD to reduce the risk of MI, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death(Level of Evidence: A)"
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Class IIa
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"1.The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers can be effective to reduce the risk of cardiovascular ischemic events in
patients with PAD.(Level of Evidence: A)"
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Recommendation for Oral Anticoagulation
Class III (Harm)
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"1. Anticoagulation should not be used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular ischemic events in patients with PAD (Level of Evidence: A)"
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Class IIb
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"1. The usefulness of anticoagulation to improve patency after lower extremity autogenous vein or prosthetic bypass is uncertain(Level of Evidence: B-R)"
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Recommendation for Recommendations for Smoking Cessation
Class I
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"1. Patients with PAD who smoke cigarettes or use other forms of tobacco should be advised at every visit to quit(Level of Evidence: A)"
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"2. Patients with PAD who smoke cigarettes should be assisted in developing a plan for quitting that includes pharmacotherapy (i.e., varenicline, bupropion, and/or
nicotine replacement therapy) and/or referral to a smoking cessation program(Level of Evidence: A)"
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"3. Patients with PAD should avoid exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work, at home, and in public places(Level of Evidence: B-NR)"
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Recommendations for Glycemic Control
Class I
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"1.Management of diabetes mellitus in the patient with PAD should be coordinated between members of the healthcare team.(Level of Evidence: B-NR)"
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Recommendation for Cilostazol
Class I
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"1.Cilostazol is an effective therapy to improve symptoms and increase walking distance in patients with claudication(Level of Evidence: A)"
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Recommendation for Pentoxifylline
Recommendation for Chelation Therapy
Class III (No beneft)
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"1. Chelation therapy (e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is not beneficial for treatment of claudication(Level of Evidence: B-R)"
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Recommendation for Homocysteine Lowering
Class III (No beneft)
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"1.B-complex vitamin supplementation to lower homocysteine levels for prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with PAD is not recommended(Level of Evidence: B-R)"
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Recommendation for Influenza Vaccination
References