Asymptomatic peripheral artery disease and antiplatelet management

作者：Raparelli Valeria; Proietti Marco; Napoleone Laura; Bucci Tommaso; Talerico Giovanni; Pignataro Francesca Serena; Basili Stefania^*

来源：VASA-Journal of Vascular Diseases, 2014, 43(5): 309-325.

DOI：10.1024/0301-1526/a000369

• Ankle brachial index
• antiplatelet drugs
• cardiovascular events
• asymptomatic peripheral artery disease
• cardiovascular prevention

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a hallmark of generalized atherosclerosis. Depending on the specific diagnostic criteria that are being used, the prevalence of PAD may be as high as 30 % in the population of people 70 or more years old. Unfortunately, although PAD is prevalent and has many important consequences for patients, it is oft en under-detected and under-treated by primary care physicians. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available literature on epidemiology and antiplatelets management of PAD patients. In particular, we focus on the "hidden" side of PAD burden, the asymptomatic patients, who are at high risk of negative cardiovascular outcomes. Identification of such PAD patients is therefore an important clinical goal to reduce mortality and morbidity and reduce the social cost of atherosclerotic disease. Early screening of PAD and an evidence-based antithrombotic approach are also discussed as potential strategies to counteract the negative impact of such condition in general population, as well as, in patients with other cardiovascular diseases.

• 出版日期2014-9