Effect of aspirin versus clopidogrel on walking exercise performance in intermittent claudication-a double-blind randomized multicenter trial.

Background: This study sought to determine possible effects of different antiplatelet therapies on walking exercise performance in intermittent claudication. Aspirin, in contrast to clopidogrel, interferes with processes that increase collateral conductance in an ischemic animal model.

Methods And Results: Patients with stable intermittent claudication were recruited from 21 centers in Switzerland and Germany and randomized to either aspirin or clopidogrel treatment.