Peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) is a serious disease affecting up to 12 million people in the United States. It is a condition in which the leg arteries become narrowed or clogged due to the formation of plaque, restricting the flow of oxygen-rich blood. Poor blood circulation can cause pain in the legs while walking. People with P.A.D may also have restricted blood flow in the arteries of the heart or brain. If the arteries supplying blood to the heart or brain become blocked, it can result in a heart attack or stroke. People with P.A.D. are six times more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke within ten years than those without P.A.D.
P.A.D. is a common disease but it is often not recognized. However, this may soon change due to the first-ever P.A.D. treatment guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA). Healthcare professionals can now refer to the guidelines to help diagnose and determine effective ways to manage P.A.D. and its associated risks.
The new ACC/AHA guidelines have important recommendations for medical treatment for people with P.A.D. This includes the use of antiplatelet therapies such as aspirin or Plavix (R)(clopidogrel bisulfate) to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“These guidelines emphasize the need to properly identify patients at risk for P.A.D. and provide physicians with recommendations for early diagnosis and consistent treatment of this disease and its associated risk of heart attack and stroke,” said Dr. Peter Sheehan, Director, Diabetes Foot and Ankle Center, Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York, NY*. “An effective treatment recommended in the guidelines is antiplatelet therapy with PLAVIX, which helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots, and has been shown to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in patients who have been diagnosed with P.A.D.”
Most people with P.A.D. meet one or more of the following risk factors:
* Age 70 years or older OR
* People with diabetes under age 50 with one additional cardiovascular risk factor OR
* Have already had a heart attack or stroke OR
* Age 50 years or older and at least one of the following:
Have high blood pressure
Have high cholesterol
Have diabetes
Smoke or used to smoke
Have a family history of heart attack or stroke
Nearly 75 percent of people with P.A.D. do not experience any symptoms. However, it is important to be familiar with warning signs such as painful cramping in the legs, thighs and calves. This pain often occurs after walking a certain distance or while exercising and usually goes away when a person rests.
“People over 50 with known risk factors for P.A.D. or who are experiencing any symptoms should visit their doctor,” said Dr. Sheehan. “Once diagnosed, patients can be started on appropriate medication to help reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. Other medications are also available to help treat leg pain that may be associated with P.A.D.”
If you have a stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding, you shouldn't use Plavix (R) (clopidogrel bisulfate). When taking Plavix alone or with some medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase. To minimize this risk, talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with Plavix. Additional rare but serious side effects could occur.
Talk to your doctor if you think you or someone you know might be at risk for P.A.D.
SIDEBAR:
WHO SHOULD RECEIVE Plavix (R) (clopidogrel bisulfate)?
PLAVIX is indicated for the reduction of atherothrombotic events as follows:
* Recent Myocardial Infarction (MI), Recent Stroke, or Established Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
For patients with a history of recent MI, recent stroke, or established PAD, PLAVIX has been shown to reduce the rate of a combined end point of new ischemic stroke (fatal or not), new MI (fatal or not), and other vascular death.
*Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
For patients with ACS (unstable angina/non–Q-wave MI), including patients who are to be managed medically and those who are to be managed with percutaneous coronary intervention (with or without stent) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), PLAVIX has been shown to decrease the rate of a combined end point of cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke as well as the rate of a combined end point of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke, or refractory ischemia.
Important Risk Information:
* PLAVIX is contraindicated in patients with active pathologic bleeding such as peptic ulcer or intracranial hemorrhage. PLAVIX should be used with caution in patients who may be at risk of increased bleeding from trauma, surgery, or coadministration with NSAIDs or warfarin. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS.*)
* The rates of major and minor bleeding were higher in patients treated with PLAVIX plus aspirin compared with placebo plus aspirin in a clinical trial. (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.*)
* As part of the worldwide post marketing experience with PLAVIX, there have been cases of reported thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), some with fatal outcome. TTP has been reported rarely following use of PLAVIX, sometimes after a short exposure (<2 weeks). TTP is a serious condition that can be fatal and requires urgent treatment including plasmapheresis (plasma exchange). (See WARNINGS.*)
* In clinical trials, the most common clinically important side effects were pruritus, purpura, diarrhea, and rash; infrequent events included intracranial hemorrhage (0.4%) and severe neutropenia (0.05%). (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.*)
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To learn more about the risks associated with P.A.D. and treatment options, visit www.PLAVIX.com or call (877) 547-4079 for more information.
Please see full prescribing information by visiting www.plavix.com. - ARA
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