METHODS IN ASSESSING DRUGS FOR CHRONIC PE RIPHERAL VASCULAR-DISEASE

The prevalence and severity of chronic vascular leg disease explains t he necessity to clarify methods for assessing it. Today the methods ar e both clinical and paraclinical. Clinically, they are based on the Fo ntaine and Leriche classification and appearance of ischaemic pain. Pa raclinically, they are measuring distal blood pressure, artery output, micro-circulation, rheology, and tissular metabolism. But this approa ch must be also global, assessing coronary and carotid disease. Trials methodology includes a first step of explanatory studies by paraclini cal ways and lastly pragmatic efficacy and tolerability studies. We re commend an accurate selection of patients and a stratification. The di sease must be stable and the treatment and diet too. The trials should be randomised vs placebo. In conclusion we propose a multiparametric classification of the disease.