[Role of antiaggregants in the treatment of arterial diseases of the lower limbs].

Intermittent claudication has changed from being only a disabling symptom to being an indication for secondary prevention of coronary and cerebrovascular events. Epidemiological studies have shown claudication to be a risk factor of cardiac and cerebral morbidity and mortality and clinical trials have sought to show that some antiaggregant agents could reduce the risk and improve the prognosis. These objectives have practically been attained, in particular with ticlopidine. The reduction of cardiovascular and cerebral risk observed in the meta-analysis of clinical trials with aspirin has had a uniting role for the use of antiaggregant drugs in all spheres of atherosclerotic pathology.