Vasoactifs artériels

Peripheral artery disease is a highly prevalent manifestation of atherosclerosis that is associated with a substantial risk of illness and death and a marked reduction in ambulatory capacity and quality of life. Unfortunately, peripheral artery disease is under-treated with regard to risk factor modification, use of antiplatelet drugs, and treatment of symptoms. Patients with peripheral artery disease should be considered eligible for secondary prevention strategies, just as are patients with coronary artery disease. Aspirin or clopidogrel should be considered in all patients. Drugs that improve functional status, called vasoactive drugs, are also available. Their use should be limited to patients with intermittent claudication in whom, despite prolonged standard therapy and physical exercise, functional symptoms persist but with no need for revascularization. These treatments should be discontinued in the absence of clear amelioration of symptoms. Prostanoid agents have shown some benefits in patients with critical limb ischemia, in which no revascularisation is possible.