Pharmacotherapy of Peripheral Artery Disease Flashcards
Define peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Clinical disorder consisting of stenosis or occlusion in the aorta or arteries of the limbs
- Mainly caused by Atherosclerosis
patients who are at risk for developing PAD
- Age ≥ 65 years of age
- Age 50–64 years of age, with risk factors for atherosclerosis
- Age < 50 years of age, with diabetes mellitus PLUS 1 additional risk factor for atherosclerosis
- Individuals with known atherosclerotic disease in another vascular bed: coronary arteries, carotid arteries, renal arteries, Abdominal Aortic aneurysm (AAA)
risk factors for atherosclerosis
- History of cigarette smoking – PAD is associated with the duration and amount of cigarettes smoked; this is the single most important risk factor to modify
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- Family history of PAD
signs & symptoms of lower extremity PAD
- Can be asymptomatic or symptomatic
- Claudication
- Atypical leg pain
- Ischemic rest pain
- Impaired walking function
- Diminished pulses
- Bruits – turbulent sound instead of lub dub
- Pallor upon elevation of extremity (pale)
- Trophic changes
example of trophic changes
- Muscle atrophy
- Shiny, hairless skin
- Nail changes
Claudication
Fatigue, discomfort, cramping, or pain of vascular origin in the muscles of the lower extremities that is consistently induced by exercise and consistently relieved by rest (within 10 minutes)
complications associated with PAD
- Abdominal Aortic aneurysm
- Coronary artery atherosclerosis may cause MI
- Carotid artery atherosclerosis / Cerebral vascular disease -> may cause stroke
- Renal artery atherosclerosis -> may cause Renal artery stenosis
- Acute Limb Ischemia (ALI)
- Critical limb ischemia (CLI)
- Infection
- Amputation
How do you measure the ankle-brachial index (ABI)?
Taking top # of legs BP and dividing it by arm BP (L or R arm – whichever is higher)
How is the ankle-brachial index (ABI) used to diagnose lower extremity PAD?
- If ratio is < 0.9, that is diagnosis for PAD
- That means that the BP is lower in the legs than it is in the arms
What will help improve morbidity / mortality outcomes?
- Decrease Risk of MI, Stroke, and CV Death
- Discontinue Tobacco Use
- Blood pressure control
- High-intensity statin therapy
- Antiplatelet therapy
What will help improve limb-related outcomes?
- Improvement in Symptoms, QoL, and/or Prevent Amputation
- Discontinue Tobacco Use
- Exercise-program
- Cilostazol
- Foot care
- Revascularization
most important lifestyle modification for the treatment of lower extremity PAD
- BLOOD PRESSURE
- CIGARETTE SMOKING
- Diabetes
- Dyslipidemia
exercise
- should be supervised; highly recommended
- can improve functional status and QoL and to reduce leg symptoms
- be careful not to do too much because that can worsen PAD
Antiplatelet therapy
aspirin alone (81mg per day) or clopidogrel alone (75mg per day) is recommended to reduce MI, stroke, and vascular death
Antihypertensive therapy
- should be administered to patients with hypertension AND PAD to reduce the risk of MI, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death
- The use of ACE-inhibitors or ARBs can be effective to reduce the risk of cardiovascular ischemic events in patients with PAD.
- The use of either of these meds are contraindicated in someone who has renal artery stenosis