Conservative treatment for patients with intermittent claudication

Aim. The effect of pharmacotherapy or supervised exercise training on patients with intermittent claudication was assessed. Methods. One hundred patients with stable intermittent claudication due to arteriosclerosis obliterans were analyzed. We divided the patients into 2 groups: patients treated by pharmacotherapy alone (Group A: 39 claudicants) and patients treated by supervised exercise training and pharmacotherapy (Group B: 61 claudicants). The changes in ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) and recovery time of ABI after a 40-m walk (RT40) and absolute claudication distance (ACD) on a treadmill before and after each treatment were assessed. Results. In Group A, RT40 decreased from 9.5 +/- 5.8 min at the baseline to 6.4 +/- 3.5 min after 6 months (P=0.0002). In Group B, it decreased from 9.7 +/- 5.2 min at the baseline to 6.3 +/- 4.2 min after 3 weeks (P<0.0001). In Group A, ACD increased from 249 +/- 177 m at the baseline to 317 +/- 168 m after 6 months (P=0.0003). In Group B, it increased from 143 +/- 90 m at the baseline to 257 +/- 161 m after 3 weeks (P<0.0001). Conclusion. Hemodynamics and walking ability were improved by either short-term supervised exercise training or midterm pharmacotherapy. RT40 may be useful for predicting the effect of conservative treatment on intermittent claudication. Greater increases in ACD after treatment can be achieved in claudicants with a shorter RT40 before conservative treatment. [Int Angiol 2010;29(Suppl. 1 to No. 2):55-60]