Defining atherothrombotic risk in peripheral artery disease

This thesis investigated the risk of cardiovascular complications and death in patients who suffer from peripheral artery disease. It is known that patients with the disease are at a greater risk of such complications than patients who do not suffer from the disease. This greater risk exists despite the fact that all patients are treated with current optimal treatment strategies. Currently, it is unknown which patients are actually at risk, and which patients are not. There are thus far no models to predict the risk. This thesis showed that the current treatment strategies are actually not optimal, as the antiplatelet agents to prevent blood clotting did not work well enough as expected. Moreover, we found that patients who already suffered from complications are at a greater risk for new complications. Furthermore, we found several new biomarkers in the blood that are increased in patients who suffered from cardiovascular complications or death.