Antiplatelet Treatment in Peripheral Arterial Disease: The Role of Novel Antiplatelet Agents.

BACKGROUND: Acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel are two antiplatelet agents currently used in the therapy of peripheral arterial disease. Cilostazol also inhibits platelet aggegration. These agents present limitations that novel antiplatelet agents may overcome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this manuscript is to review current data on the use of novel antiplatelet agents in peripheral arterial disease.

METHOD: An extensive search in the English medical literature has yielded a number of publications on a number of novel antiplatelet agents; atopaxar, vorapaxar, cangrelor, ticagrelor, elinogrel, and prasugrel.

RESULTS: Data on atopaxar, vorapaxar, cangrelor, ticagrelor, elinogrel and prasugrel come mainly from cardiology publications. Limitations, side effects and effectiveness of each of these agents are studied, but their use in peripheral arterial disease is limited, especially for those agents that have not still been approved for this indication. As expected, main side effect of most of these agents is haemorrhage, but other important side effects limit the use of some of these agents in specific subgroups of patients.

CONCLUSION: Novel antiplatelet agents demonstrate a range of promising characteristics, but further study and clinical trials are necessary for them to be considered safe and effective.