Adjunctive parenteral therapy with lipo-ecraprost, a prostaglandin E1 analog, in patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing distal revascularization does not improve 6-month outcomes.

Purpose: In patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), distal revascularization remains the procedure of choice for preventing limb loss, but long-term outcomes for pain relief, wound healing, and prevention of amputation remain suboptimal. Prostaglandin drug therapy as an adjuvant to revascularization may improve these outcomes. The current trial was designed to test the hypothesis that the use of lipo-ecraprost, a lipid encapsulated prostaglandin E(1) prodrug, as an adjunctive therapy after distal revascularization would improve amputation-free survival in patients with CLI.

Treatment of disability in peripheral arterial disease: new drugs.

Peripheral arterial disease is a major manifestation of systemic atherothrombosis that affects a large segment of the adult population. The major treatment goals for this population are to address the marked increase risk in cardiovascular events and then secondarily to treat the disability and reduced exercise tolerance. The primary goals for treating the limb symptoms of PAD are to improve functional capacity, exercise performance and qualify of life.

Randomized trial of AT-1015 for treatment of intermittent claudication. A novel 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist with no evidence of efficacy.

AT-1015 is a novel selective 5-HT2A serotonin receptor antagonist that is known to impair platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. Serotonin has been hypothesized to contribute to claudication symptoms in individuals with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) via microvascular vasoconstrictor and thrombotic effects. AT-1015 was thus evaluated in 439 patients with claudication who were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg BID versus placebo for 24 weeks.

Preventing atherothrombotic events in peripheral arterial disease: the use of antiplatelet therapy.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at increased risk of generalized atherothrombotic events. Epidemiologic data shows a high rate of co-prevalence of PAD and atherosclerosis in other vascular beds. Aggressive risk-factor modification and antiplatelet therapy has become the cornerstone of treatment to prevent ischaemic events associated with PAD.