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Current Therapy for Intermittent Claudication

  • Practical Therapeutics
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Conclusions

Loss of weight, exercise and abstinence from smoking constitute the first line of therapy for patients with intermittent claudication, together with control of high blood pressure. An attempt to correct lipid abnormalities seems worthwhile, especially in younger patients. Reconstructive vascular surgery or percutaneous transluminal dilatation are effective in a large proportion of patients, but lumbar sympathectomy is of little value in most patients. Stating the role of more specific drug treatment is more problematic. Agents which reduce blood viscosity, platelet inhibitors and vasodilators have been tried but the evidence supporting their efficacy remains unconvincing. Long term use of anticoagulants has not resulted in a convincing advantage in terms of morbidity or mortality.

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  1. Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, Department of Medical Research, University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Marc Verstraete

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Verstraete, M. Current Therapy for Intermittent Claudication. Drugs 24, 240–247 (1982). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198224030-00004

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