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 .
Xanthinol nicotinate in peripheral vascular disease.
In a double-blind control of xanthinol nicotinate ( ' Complamin ' ; ' Complamex ' ) in patients with severe progressive obliterative vascular disease , 25 of 33 patients who completed the trial were helped significantly by the drug , as shown by both clinical and laboratory findings . Placebo helped in 4 of 33 patients . The difference is significant ( p less than 0 - 001 ) . These are the results for the trial period only . The results of follow-up for 6 to 30 months are available in 18 patients : 14 of these still had appreciable help from the drug , which was continued in maintenance doses . It should be noted that 3 of 6 diabetics were no longer helped after 6 months , and that only 3 of a total of 7 patients under the age of 50 were helped ; however 3 of the 4 not helped were diabetics under the age of 50 . Special caution was indicated in the use of the drug in patients who have ischaemic heart disease in addition to their peripheral arterial disease . Side-effects were common , particularly a severe prolonged flush shortly after taking a dose of the drug ; many patients helped by it accepted this side-effect if it occurred . Xanthinol nicotinate reduced whole-blood viscosity and cholesterol and fibrinogen in about half of the patients helped . This is a useful drug for about half the patients in whom surgery is not indicated or is contraindicated
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 .