Treatment and medication of peripheral artery disease

Treatment aims to reduce the progression of the disease, maintain the best possible functionality of blood circulation and reduce the risk of complications.

The disease requires a long-term treatment.

In peripheral arterial disease, there is involvement of several areas of the bloodstream. Not just one vessel or part of a vascular system.

The most frequently affected blood vessels are common carotid arteries, coronary arteries and cerebral arteries, or a combination of the three.

The goal of treatment is to prevent limb bleeding and critical limb ischemia, which is at risk of amputation.

as well as maintaining the quality of life.

Conservative and invasive treatment methods are combined.

It is important to evaluation and eliminate risk factors, such as:

• smoking - quit smoking as soon as possible
• overweight and obesity - weight reduction to normal BMI values
• excessive blood cholesterol - reduction of dietary fat intake
• high blood pressure - maintaining normal blood pressure values
• trombocytes and treatment of thrombosis and its prevention
• diabetes - it is important to keep diabetes mellitus compensated and sugar levels normal

Sufficient physical activity and kinesiotherapy - important treatment methods - are important in treatment. A regular daily walk is also required.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and stem cell therapy may help.

The reduction of modifiable factors is followed by pharmacological treatment.

Pharmacological treatment includes:

• antiplatelet medication - anticoagulants, antiplatelet therapy
• vasodilators - medicines to dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow
• ACE inhibitors - for the treatment of hypertension
• statins - cholesterol
• diabetes medications - adequate treatment of diabetes
• analgesics - painkillers

Invasive treatment is of major importance to save the limb.

The task is to restore sufficient blood flow. Examples are critical vasoconstriction, revascularization, endovascular treatment and vascular surgery are used.

In case of skin defects, a surgical treatment, thorough skin and wound care could be a treatment option. The patient might also want to seek treatment of infection, necrosis or gangrene with antibiotics.

If the treatment cannot be managed for various reasons or if it is neglected, there is a risk of amputation of the dead part of the limb. The extent depends on the evaluation of vascular damage and the present necrosis or gangrene.

Other comorbidities must be managed as well, such as diseases of the cardiovascular system or diabetes.