Lipid-lowering therapy is effective in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in people with PAD .
It may also improve local symptoms .
Until further evidence on the relative effectiveness of different lipid-lowering agents is available , use of a statin in people with PAD and a blood cholesterol level > /=3.5 mmol/litre is most indicated
BACKGROUND Lipid-lowering therapy is recommended for secondary prevention in people with coronary artery disease .
It may also reduce cardiovascular events and /or local disease progression in people with lower limb peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on all-cause mortality , cardiovascular events and local disease progression in patients with PAD of the lower limb .
Treatment of Intermittent Claudication with Antiplatelet Agents
In a double-blind study , 296 patients with intermittent claudication ( Fontaine stage II ) were treated with 250 mg ticlopidine twice daily , 500 mg aspirin every third day plus 75 mg dipyridamole three times daily , or 300 mg xanthinol nicotinate three times daily for 6 months . Ticlopidine and aspirin/dipyridamole , but not xanthinol nicotinate , improved platelet aggregation , reduced β-thromboglobulin , platelet factor IV and fibrinopeptide A concentrations , and increased antithrombin III concentrations and red blood cell filterability . No changes in lipid profiles , platelet count or fibrinogen were recorded following any treatment . The doppler systolic blood pressure ratio was improved in patients treated with ticlopidine or aspirin/dipyridamole , but not with xanthinol nicotinate . It is concluded that antiplatelet treatment is useful for the treatment of limb arteriopathy
Lipid-lowering therapy is effective in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in people with PAD .
It may also improve local symptoms .
Until further evidence on the relative effectiveness of different lipid-lowering agents is available , use of a statin in people with PAD and a blood cholesterol level > /=3.5 mmol/litre is most indicated
BACKGROUND Lipid-lowering therapy is recommended for secondary prevention in people with coronary artery disease .
It may also reduce cardiovascular events and /or local disease progression in people with lower limb peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on all-cause mortality , cardiovascular events and local disease progression in patients with PAD of the lower limb .