Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) involves atherosclerosis mainly in the extremities, especially in the legs and feet that lead to ischemia. Untreated, PAD can progress to critical limb ischemia (CLI), also called chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), which will lead to foot or leg amputation. The mortality rate for these CLI amputees is 70% within three years. There is currently an epidemic of PAD and CLI in the U.S. The majority of patients are defined by health disparities concentrated in the Black, Latino, Native American populations in both rural and low-income urban areas. A large number of PAD patients have other comorbities, with diabetes being one a primary issue.

leg veins chronic venous disease PAD peripheral artery disease

New guidelines help interventional cardiologists manage chronic venous disease

"These recommendations will help ensure that patient care remains both consistent and personalized," SCAI President Srihari S. Naidu, MD, explained. 

Popular obesity drugs limit amputations, heart issues among patients with peripheral artery disease

Semaglutide, tirzepatide and other GLP-1 drugs appear to provide significant value for patients with moderate PAD.

Reflow Medical Spur Peripheral Retrievable Stent System

New-look peripheral stent with expandable spikes receives FDA’s de novo classification

California-based Reflow Medical gained the approval after submitting data from the DEEPER REVEAL clinical trial. The device was associated with a high success rate and improved outcomes in CLTI patients.

Richard Kovacs, MD, MACC, chief medical officer, American College of Cardiology (ACC), former ACC president, and professor of clinical medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, explains the most important late-breaking cardiology pharmacology trials at the ACC 2025 meeting. #ACC25 #ACC2025

Late-breaking cardiovascular drug trials took center stage at ACC.25

Richard Kovacs, MD, detailed some the most important late-breaking cardiology pharmacology trials presented at ACC.25.

Semaglutide, the GLP-1 receptor agonist sold by Novo Nordisk under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, is associated with significant health benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a late-breaking clinical trial presented at ACC.25, the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

‘A practice-changing trial’: Semaglutide linked to key benefits for PAD patients with diabetes

Patients who present with type 2 diabetes and PAD often face substantial mobility issues. According to new data presented at ACC.25, however, treatment with semaglutide could represent a major step forward for this high-risk population.

Bard Peripheral Vascular Rotarex Atherectomy System recall

Safety update: FDA announces Class I recall due to atherectomy devices breaking during use

The FDA shared a warning about these safety issues in February, but said it was still reviewing the evidence. The agency is now saying the devices “may cause serious injury or death” if used without following the updated instructions for use.

Eric Secemsky, MD, MSc, RPVI, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, FSVM, director of vascular intervention, Beth Israel Deaconess, section head, interventional cardiology and vascular research, Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research, and associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, explained some of the new bioresorbable stent scaffold technology that is being developed for use in PAD below the knee at CRT 2025.

Advances in bioresorbable stents show promise for treating PAD

Bioresorbable stents are back in the spotlight thanks to some significant progress from multiple medtech companies. Eric Secemsky, MD, discussed some of the biggest breakthroughs in this space at CRT 2025.

Video of Dave Dixon explaining the impact of first FDA approval of a generic DOAC.

FDA clears first generic versions of rivaroxaban—what it means for patient care

Dave Dixon, PharmD, explored the short- and long-term impact of these approvals, noting that they could help reduce costs down the line.