Treatment
6
Table 3. Management of Asymptomatic Disease
Recommendations Grade
Level of
Evidence
The SVS recommends multidisciplinary comprehensive
smoking cessation interventions for patients with
asymptomatic PAD who use tobacco (repeatedly until
tobacco use has stopped).
1 A
The SVS recommends providing education about the signs
and symptoms of PAD progression to asymptomatic patients
with PAD.
1 U
The SVS recommends against invasive treatments for PAD
in the absence of symptoms, regardless of hemodynamic
measures or imaging findings demonstrating PAD.
1 B
Table 4. Medical Treatment for Intermittent Claudication
Recommendations Grade
Level of
Evidence
The SVS recommends multidisciplinary comprehensive
smoking cessation interventions for patients with IC
(repeatedly until tobacco use has stopped).
1 A
The SVS recommends statin therapy in patients with
symptomatic PAD.
1 A
The SVS recommends optimizing diabetes control
(hemoglobin A1c goal of <7.0%) in patients with IC if this
goal can be achieved without hypoglycemia.
1 B
The SVS recommends the use of indicated β-blockers (eg,
for hypertension, cardiac indications) in patients with IC.
There is no evidence supporting concerns about worsening
claudication symptoms.
1 B
In patients with IC due to atherosclerosis, the SVS
recommends antiplatelet therapy with aspirin
(75–325 mg daily).
1 A
The SVS recommends clopidogrel in doses of 75 mg daily as
an effective alternative to aspirin for antiplatelet therapy in
patients with IC.
1 B
In patients with IC due to atherosclerosis, the SVS suggests
against using warfarin for the sole indication of reducing the
risk of adverse cardiovascular events or vascular occlusions.
1 C
