Author/Editor		Bregar, U; Poredoš, P; Šabovič, M; Jug, B; Šebeštjen, M
Title		The influence of atorvastatin on walking performance in peripheral arterial disease
Type		članek
Source		Vasa
Vol. and No.		Letnik 38, št. 2
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 155-9
Language		eng
Abstract		Background: Recently it has been shown that statins can improve walking distance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. We examined whether statins used in moderate dosages with the aim of reaching the target levels for hypercholesterolemia could improve walking performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Patients and methods: 37 patients with hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol = 3.46 +/- 0.13 mmol/l), who had previously not been treated by statins, were randomized in a double-blind study to a group receiving either atorvastatin at 20 mg/day (N = 20) or placebo (N = 17). All patients had stable intermittent claudication (Fontaine class IIa or IIb). At baseline, after one and three months the pain-free walking distance was measured in all patients. Results: After 3 months patients in the treated group had reached target cholesterol values (LDL cholesterol = 2,34 +/- 0.9 mmol/l), whereas no significant change in lipids was observed in the control group. The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) did not change significantly in either group. After 3 months the pain-free walking distance was increased significantly (p < 0.001), but similarly in both groups (at entry: 56 (53-108) m vs 53 (53-106) m; after 3 months: 79 (53-108) m vs 106 (66-159) m, for the treated and placebo group, respectively). Therefore this effect had to be attributed to regular exercise and not to statin use. Conclusion: Our results show that routine treatment with statin (atorvastatin 20 mg/day), which is effective in reducing the level of cholesterol, does not produce an improvement in walking performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Descriptors		WALKING AGED ANTICHOLESTEREMIC AGENTS ARTERIAL OCCLUSIVE DISEASES COMBINED MODALITY THERAPY DIET, FAT-RESTRICTED DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP, DRUG DOUBLE-BLIND METHOD EXERCISE TEST HEPTANOIC ACIDS HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION PYRROLES STATISTICS, NONPARAMETRIC