Updates for PAD Awareness Month: Expanded drug indications, revascularization and more

September is Peripheral Artery Disease awareness month; therefore, Healio and Cardiology Today have compiled a list of recent updates in PAD research and treatment.

Updates include the FDA’s expanded indication for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen/Bayer) to the PAD population; in prognosis of PAD with concomitant HF; lipid levels in patients with PAD; and more.

In FDA-designed cohort study, mortality risk not related to paclitaxel-coated devices

In the SAFE-PAD cohort study of patients with PAD designed in part by the FDA, there was no difference in mortality between those treated with paclitaxel-coated devices and those treated with uncoated devices. Read more

Intravascular lithotripsy beneficial for calcified lesions in various vascular beds

Three publications in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions showed how intravascular lithotripsy may benefit patients with severely calcified lesions. Read more

Rivaroxaban reduces limb events after revascularization in patients with renal impairment

In a cohort of patients with renal impairment who underwent peripheral revascularization, rivaroxaban reduced the primary composite endpoint, driven by a marked reduction in limb events, according to data from the VOYAGER PAD trial. Read more

Among patients with PAD, those with HF at higher risk for poor outcomes

Patients with PAD and HF have higher rates of CAD and elevated risk for adverse CV events and mortality compared with patients with PAD but no HF, researchers reported. Read more

Lipid-lowering therapy use low, LDL elevated in patients with PAD

Among patients with PAD, use of lipid-lowering therapies was low and LDL remained elevated, according to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more

FDA grants expanded indication for rivaroxaban related to PAD population

Janssen Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted an expanded indication to rivaroxaban, now allowing it for use in patients who had recent lower-extremity revascularization due to symptomatic PAD. Read more

Low-dose paclitaxel-coated balloon noninferior to higher-dose PCB for treatment of PAD

In a head-to-head trial, a low-dose paclitaxel-coated balloon was noninferior to a higher-dose paclitaxel-coated balloon for treatment of patients with PAD. Read more

Rivaroxaban plus aspirin reduces total ischemic events in PAD after revascularization

Rivaroxaban plus low-dose aspirin reduced incidence of total severe CV and other adverse events in patients with PAD who had lower-extremity revascularization, according to new data from the VOYAGER PAD trial. Read more

Outcomes mixed for endovascular vs. surgical revascularization in CTO PAD

Endovascular intervention conferred less in-hospital mortality but more postprocedural complications compared with surgical revascularization in patients with PAD due to chronic total occlusion, new data suggest. Read more