Shammas Nicolas W
Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Cardiovascular Medicine, PC, 1236 E Rusholme, Suite 300, Davenport, IA 52803, USA.
Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2007;3(2):229-34. doi: 10.2147/vhrm.2007.3.2.229.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is part of a global vascular problem of diffuse atherosclerosis. PAD patients die mostly of cardiac and cerebrovascular-related events and much less frequently due to obstructive disease of the lower extremities. Aggressive risk factors modification is needed to reduce cardiac mortality in PAD patients. These include smoking cessation, reduction of blood pressure to current guidelines, aggressive low density lipoprotein lowering, losing weight, controlling diabetes and the use of oral antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin or clopidogrel. In addition to quitting smoking and exercise, cilostazol and statins have been shown to reduce claudication in patients with PAD. Patients with critical rest limb ischemia or severe progressive claudication need to be treated with revascularization to minimize the chance of limb loss, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life.
外周动脉疾病（PAD）是弥漫性动脉粥样硬化这一全球性血管问题的一部分。PAD患者大多死于心脏和脑血管相关事件，因下肢阻塞性疾病死亡的频率则低得多。需要积极改变危险因素以降低PAD患者的心脏死亡率。这些措施包括戒烟、将血压降至现行指南推荐水平、积极降低低密度脂蛋白、减肥、控制糖尿病以及使用口服抗血小板药物，如阿司匹林或氯吡格雷。除了戒烟和运动外，西洛他唑和他汀类药物已被证明可减轻PAD患者的间歇性跛行症状。患有严重静息肢体缺血或严重进行性间歇性跛行的患者需要接受血管重建治疗，以尽量减少肢体丧失的几率、减轻症状并提高生活质量。
