Conservative treatment for intermittent claudication

Abstract

This paper discusses the issues emerging during the treatment of lower-limb arterial diseases and intermittent claudication. According to the international and Russian guidelines, the common management strategy for intermittent claudication is as follows: conservative treatment is recommended in patients without limiting intermittent claudication who can walk 30 m or more without pain. Drugs that are prescribed is these patients are addressed. No large well-designed studies on most of these drugs were conducted, therefore, it is challenging to assess their efficacy in patients with intermittent claudication. The authors focus on cilostazol that has the largest evidence base. This drug is included in the Russian and international clinical guidelines. Several students demonstrate that cilostazol provides antithrombotic effect, stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques, prevents hyperplasia of neointima and restenosis after vascular procedures, improves lipid metabolism, and significantly increases pain-free walking distance (intermittent claudication distance). Recent studies show that cilostazol can be used in the complex treatment for COVID-19 due to pleiotropic mechanism of action.