Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs, causing pain with walking and, in severe cases, limb-threatening tissue death. It affects millions of people — most of whom have concurrent coronary artery disease — and remains undertreated.
What's actually going on in research
Rivaroxaban added to aspirin has proven beneficial for reducing major cardiovascular events in PAD, and trials are testing other antithrombotic combinations. Gene therapy delivering VEGF or other angiogenic growth factors to stimulate new blood vessel formation in the legs is in later-stage trials after mixed early results. Intravascular drug-coated balloons and stents are being compared in trials for which device produces better long-term patency in different artery segments.
Antithrombotic optimization
Combinations of low-dose anticoagulants with antiplatelet drugs are being tested to reduce limb events and amputations while keeping bleeding risk manageable.
Gene therapy for angiogenesis
VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha gene therapy are in late trials to stimulate collateral blood vessel growth in patients with severe limb ischemia who have no surgical revascularization options.
Endovascular device comparison
Drug-coated balloons, drug-eluting stents, and atherectomy devices are being compared head-to-head across above-knee, below-knee, and tibial artery PAD.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on ABI measurement, disease severity (claudication vs. critical limb ischemia), anatomy, surgical eligibility, and prior revascularization history.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering combinations to prevent limb and cardiovascular events.
- Endovascular trials — Comparing drug-coated balloons, stents, and atherectomy for arterial revascularization.
- Gene therapy trials — Testing angiogenic gene therapy for critical limb ischemia without surgical options.
- Surgical trials — Comparing bypass surgery techniques, graft materials, and conduit selection.
- Rehabilitation trials — Evaluating supervised exercise programs and walking training to improve walking distance.
Recently added Peripheral Artery Disease trials
Observing the Role of Inflammation in Peripheral Artery Disease and Its Impact on Heart and Mobility Health: PANACEA-O.
This registry aims to collect detailed information about people in Canada who have Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and are receiving care in heart clinics while still able to walk and live in the community. Researchers want to better understand what these patients are like at the start of their care and looking at their general health, levels of inflammation in their bodies, and how well they can move and function in daily life. The results of this study will help healthcare providers better understand what PAD looks like in today's Canadian heart clinics. It will also help guide future research studies that focus on inflammation and PAD. The researchers believe that PAD patients can be routinely recruited from these clinics, and that most of these patients will have high levels of inflammation (shown by high blood CRP levels) and poor physical ability when they first join. The findings will show that there is a strong need to regularly check for PAD in heart clinics so that patients can be identified early and offered new treatments in the future and especially treatments that may help reduce inflammation.
Tele-assessment and Face-to-face Assessment of the 30-second Sit-stand Test in Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a chronic and progressive condition caused by narrowing or blockage of arteries in the lower limbs due to atherosclerosis. It primarily affects adults over 50, with prevalence increasing with age, and its clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic cases to severe ischemia that may require amputation. Intermittent claudication, characterized by exercise-induced leg pain that resolves with rest, is the most common early symptom. Impaired blood flow, poor vascularization, and muscle loss contribute to reduced lower limb strength and functional capacity, which are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Walking exercises is a cornerstone of PAD management, particularly for patients with no or mild symptoms, making the assessment of lower limb strength and mobility essential for designing rehabilitation programs. The 30-second sit-to-stand test is a validated and practical measure of functional capacity and walking ability. Tele-assessment using video technology has been shown to be feasible and reliable in other patient populations. Although tele-rehabilitation has been widely studied and shown to improve functional outcomes, research on tele-assessment methods to accurately evaluate patient performance and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs is still limited, particularly in PAD patients. This study aims to examine the reliability of the 30-second sit-to-stand test when performed via tele-assessment compared with face-to-face evaluation in patients with PAD.
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