Medical Treatment of Peripheral Artery Occlusive Disease (PAOD)

The goal of this review is to focus attention of the physicians to the point that peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) is not only a local problem impairing walking distance, but also a manifestation of atherosclerosis. As a consequence, one should realise that in PAOD patients, atherosclerotic narrowing is likely to be present in other territories such as the coronary and cerebral arteries; mortality and morbidity in PAOD will largely depend on impairment of the circulation in these areas more than on the local ischaemia in the limbs. Also, control of risk factors will be a major issue. The most important steps in the local medical treatment of PAOD are training and nicotine stop. All efforts should be given to help patients in their compliance to these non-pharmacological means. Vasoactive drugs have been shown to cause significantly positive effects on walking distance and for naftidrofuryl on quality of life; such effects should be seen as an addition to training and nicotine stop. The approach to PAOD has come in a completely new light in medicine since it is has been recognised as a major marker of coronary or cerebral atherosclerosis.