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 .
Effect of sulodexide on blood viscosity in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
Thirty patients with Stage II peripheral vascular disease were treated with sulodexide , a new , medium molecular weight glycosaminoglycan , and placebo using a double-blind , crossover study design . After a 1-month wash-out period , patients were treated for 1 month with one or other trial medication and then crossed over to the alternative preparation for a further month . Measurements were made at baseline and at the end of each treatment period of serum , plasma and whole blood viscosities ( at various shear rates ) , fibrinogen levels and red cell filterability . Tolerance parameters were also assessed at the same times . The results showed that there were statistically significant reductions in plasma and whole blood viscosity and in fibrinogen levels after sulodexide , but not after placebo . Neither treatment had any marked effect on red blood cell filterability . Local and systemic tolerance of the treatment was excellent , and some patients reported an improvement in symptoms whilst they were taking sulodexide ; this , however , could not be quantified in this study . It is suggested that the viscosity and fibrinogen reducing effect of sulodexide make it a useful form of treatment in patients with atheromatous vascular diseases of the lower limbs
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 .