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Patients with chronic kidney disease may develop new or more severe anemia when treated with antiplatelet agents due to blood loss in conjunction with impaired erythropoiesis. Because anemia independently predicts limb amputation and mortality among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), we evaluated the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the EUCLID trial in which patients with symptomatic PAD were randomized to ticagrelor or clopidogrel. At baseline, 9025, 1870, and 1000 patients had eGFR ⩾ 60, 45–59, and < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The mean fall in Hb during the trial was 0.46 ± 1.68 g/dL and did not differ by baseline eGFR category, although Hb fall ⩾ 10% was more frequent among patients with lower eGFR (p for trend < 0.0001). On-study treatment with iron, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and/or red blood cell transfusion was reported for 479 (5.3%), 165 (8.8%), and 129 (12.9%) patients in the three eGFR categories, respectively (p for trend < 0.0001). After adjustment for baseline and post-randomization effects, those not receiving anemia treatment had a smaller reduction in Hb from baseline than those receiving anemia treatment (p < 0.0001). Other determinants of Hb reduction included absence of on-study myocardial infarction, coronary or peripheral revascularization, residence outside North America, male sex, and baseline eGFR. We conclude that among patients with PAD treated with P2Y12 inhibitors, lower baseline eGFR was associated with a greater reduction in Hb. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01732822 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC) guidelines were last updated in 2007 (TASC II) and represented the collaboration of international vascular specialties involved in the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Since the publication of TASC II, there have been innovations in endovascular revascularization strategies for patients with PAD. The intent of this publication is to provide a complete anatomic lower limb TASC lesion classification, including the infrapopliteal segment, and an updated literature review of new endovascular techniques and practice patterns employed by vascular specialists today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]