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 .
Effects of colestipol-niacin therapy on human femoral atherosclerosis.
The 2-year therapy effect on femoral atherosclerosis was evaluated in the Cholesterol Lowering Atherosclerosis Study ( CLAS ) , a r and omized , placebo-plus-diet-controlled angiographic trial of colestipol-niacin therapy plus diet in men with previous coronary bypass surgery . Different diet compositions were prescribed to enhance the differential in blood cholesterol responses between the two groups . The annual rate of change in computer-estimated atherosclerosis ( CEA ) , a measure of lumen abnormality , was evaluated between treatment groups . A significant per-segment therapy effect was found in segments with moderately severe atherosclerosis ( p less than 0.04 ) and in proximal segments ( p less than 0.02 ) . When segmental CEA measures were combined into a per-patient score using an adaptation of the National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute scoring procedure , a significant therapy effect was observed ( p less than 0.02 ) . Total variance of the annual change rate in CEA was as predicted from pilot studies , but measurement variation was larger . The therapy effect observed in femoral arteries , although significant , was less marked than the strong and consistent benefit previously reported for both native coronary arteries and aortocoronary bypass grafts
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 .