PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of short-term therapy with simvastatin on walking performance in hypercholesterolemic patients with peripheral vascular disease. METHODS:Eighty-six patients with peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine stage II), intermittent claudication, and total cholesterol levels >220 mg/dL were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Forty-three patients were assigned to simvastatin (40 mg/d); the remaining 43 patients were assigned to placebo treatment. All patients underwent an exercise test and clinical examination, and completed a self-assessment questionnaire at 0, 3, and 6 months. Pain-free and total walking distance, resting and postexercise ankle-brachial indexes, and questionnaire scores were determined at each follow-up. RESULTS: At 6 months, the mean pain-free walking distance had increased 90 meters (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64 to 116 meters; P <0.005) more in the simvastatin group than in the placebo group. Similar results were seen for the total walking distance (mean between-group difference in the change, 126 meters; 95% CI: 101 to 151 meters; P <0.001), and for the ankle-brachial index at rest (mean, 0.09; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.12; P <0.01) and after exercise (mean, 0.19; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.24; P <0.005). There was also a greater improvement in claudication symptoms among patients treated with simvastatin. The effects on walking performance, ankle-brachial indexes, and questionnaire scores had also been significant at 3 months. CONCLUSION: High-dose short-term therapy with simvastatin may improve walking performance, ankle-brachial pressure indexes, and symptoms of claudication in hypercholesterolemic patients with peripheral vascular disease. Copyright 2003 by Excerpta Medica Inc.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of short-term therapy with simvastatin on walking performance in hypercholesterolemicpatients with peripheral vascular disease. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine stage II), intermittent claudication, and total cholesterol levels >220 mg/dL were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Forty-three patients were assigned to simvastatin (40 mg/d); the remaining 43 patients were assigned to placebo treatment. All patients underwent an exercise test and clinical examination, and completed a self-assessment questionnaire at 0, 3, and 6 months. Pain-free and total walking distance, resting and postexercise ankle-brachial indexes, and questionnaire scores were determined at each follow-up. RESULTS: At 6 months, the mean pain-free walking distance had increased 90 meters (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64 to 116 meters; P <0.005) more in the simvastatin group than in the placebo group. Similar results were seen for the total walking distance (mean between-group difference in the change, 126 meters; 95% CI: 101 to 151 meters; P <0.001), and for the ankle-brachial index at rest (mean, 0.09; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.12; P <0.01) and after exercise (mean, 0.19; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.24; P <0.005). There was also a greater improvement in claudication symptoms among patients treated with simvastatin. The effects on walking performance, ankle-brachial indexes, and questionnaire scores had also been significant at 3 months. CONCLUSION: High-dose short-term therapy with simvastatin may improve walking performance, ankle-brachial pressure indexes, and symptoms of claudication in hypercholesterolemicpatients with peripheral vascular disease. Copyright 2003 by Excerpta Medica Inc.
Authors: Dominique Beaudry; Kenneth E Stone; Suzanne Wetherold; John Hemphill; Dat Do; John McClish; Robert Chilton Journal: Curr Atheroscler Rep Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 5.113
Authors: Thomas A Abbruzzese; Joaquim Havens; Michael Belkin; Magruder C Donaldson; Anthony D Whittemore; James K Liao; Michael S Conte Journal: J Vasc Surg Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 4.268