Initial therapy for intermittent claudication has been historically the gear train, however, especially in recent years; the number of peripheral angioplasties has increased, proving highly effective for this condition. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of endovascular revascularization plus exercise versus exercise alone in patients with intermittent claudication.
The study included 212 patients with intermittent claudication over 3 months and obstructions greater than 50% in aorto/iliac or femoropopliteal territory susceptible of angioplasty.
The primary endpoint was the maximum walking distance (30 minutes Gardner protocol). At 12 months follow-up the intervention group was successfully treated in 96% of cases (62 % with stent implantation) and received an average of 30 supervised exercise sessions versus 43 sessions for the exercise alone group. In the exercise group that also received angioplasty a significantly greater distance traveled per month, 6 months and 1 year was observed in addition to improving likewise in all secondary endpoints.
Conclusion:
In patients with intermittent claudication, the combination of endovascular therapy plus supervised exercise resulted in functional improvement and quality of life versus supervised exercise only.
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Farzin Fakhry
2013-11-19
Original title: Randomized Comparison of Endovascular Revascularization Plus Supervised Exercise Therapy Versus Supervised Exercise Therapy Only in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease and Intermittent Claudication: Results of the Endovascular Revascularization and Supervised Exercise (ERASE) Trial
