Oral Anticoagulation for Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease?

Because peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with widespread vascular disease (including myocardial infarction and stroke), most patients with PAD receive antiplatelet therapies. This multinational randomized trial examined whether the combination of an antiplatelet plus oral anticoagulant is superior to an antiplatelet agent alone.

The study included 2161 patients with PAD of the legs (82%), subclavian artery, or carotid artery; half the patients also had a history of coronary disease. Patients received either an antiplatelet drug alone (mostly aspirin) or an antiplatelet drug plus oral anticoagulant (mostly warfarin). During an average follow-up of 3 years, several primary outcomes — which included combinations of cardiovascular…