Primary Stenting of the Superficial Femoral Artery in Patients with Intermittent Claudication Has Durable Effects on Health-Related Quality of Life at 24 Months: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Intermittent claudication (IC) is commonly caused by lesions in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), yet invasive treatment is still controversial and longer term patient-reported outcomes are lacking. This prospective randomized trial assessed the 24-month impact of primary stenting with nitinol self-expanding stents compared to best medical treatment (BMT) alone in patients with stable IC due to SFA disease on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: One hundred patients with stable IC due to SFA disease treated with BMT were randomized to either stent (n = 48) or control (n = 52) group.