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 .
Lowering of Plasma Viscosity by the Oral Administration of the Glycosaminoglycan Sulodexide in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease
The aim of the double-blind , crossover , placebo-controlled study was to evaluate whether oral administration of sulodexide , a medium molecular weight glycosaminoglycan , had an effect on whole blood , plasma and serum viscosity , and /or plasma fibrinogen concentrations . The drug was administered orally at a dose of 500 lipoproteinlipase releasing units twice daily for 1 month to two groups of 20 patients with peripheral vascular disease ; one group was administered a placebo – drug sequence and the other a drug – placebo sequence .  Orally administered sulodexide had a marked effect on plasma viscosity and on plasma fibrinogen concentrations , whereas there were no effects on whole blood viscosity . No significant side-effects were observed . The fact that sulodexide was highly effective , even after oral administration , suggests it may be useful for the treatment of patients with atheromatous vascular diseases of the lower limbs requiring chronic therapy
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 .