Effectiveness of Intensive Lipid Modification Medication in Preventing the Progression of Peripheral Arterial Disease (The ELIMIT Study)

PAD occurring in the legs is a serious disease that affects about 8 million people in the United States. A person's risk for PAD increases with age but can also be raised by smoking or having diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease. Symptoms of PAD may include leg cramps or pain while walking, foot pain while resting, and skin wounds or ulcers on feet and toes. However, because only about one in three people with PAD knows to seek treatment for these symptoms, many end up with advanced disease that requires significant medical intervention, such as an endovascular or other surgical procedure to open the blocked arteries. While these procedures are helpful in treating people with severe PAD, lifestyle modifications and certain medications are also needed for long-term management of PAD and improved quality of life. An intensive combination of lipid modifying medications may be superior to standard lipid modifying medications in reducing PAD-associated risk factors and improving overall health in people with PAD. This study will compare the effectiveness of an intensive combination of lipid modifying medications versus standard lipid modifying medications in preventing blockages and re-narrowing of arteries in people with significant PAD who have had an endovascular intervention.

Participation in this study will last a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years. All participants will first undergo baseline assessments that will include a medical history, vascular and physical exam, electrocardiograph (EKG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, 3D ultrasound, blood pressure measurement test in the legs, treadmill walking distance test, urine test, blood draw, and questionnaires. A portion of the blood draw will be used for DNA analysis and genetic testing.

Participants who have not had an endovascular intervention in the 3 months before study entry will undergo a standard of care percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedure. First these, participants will complete a series of clinical review assessments that will include a review of social, vascular, and clinical history. Next, they will undergo the PTA procedure, which will involve the inflation and deflation of a small balloon in the area of the blocked artery. Additionally, participants may have a metal mesh tube called a stent placed in the blocked area, if deemed necessary by their physicians.

All participants will then be assigned randomly to receive standard care plus an intensive combination of lipid modifying medications (Simvastatin, Plavix, aspirin, Ezetimibe, and Niaspan) or standard lipid modifying medications with placebo (Simvastatin, Plavix, aspirin, placebo Ezetimibe, and placebo Niaspan). Participants will take their assigned medications daily for 24 months. Follow-up visits will occur at Day 10; Week 6; and Months, 6, 12, and 24 after beginning the study medications. During follow-up visits, participants will repeat the baseline assessments and the clinical review assessments from the pre-PTA visit. The Week 6 follow-up visit will include only a blood draw, questionnaires, and the clinical review assessments. Participants will also be contacted by phone to check their status every 2 to 3 months during treatment and every 6 months after treatment for up to 3 years.

Inclusion criteria

• Symptoms consistent with calf claudication and described as life style limiting
• Objective evidence of peripheral artery disease (PAD): Ankle brachial index less than 0.9 OR other hemodynamic or imaging modalities confirming significant PAD
• Baseline imaging reveals superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease starting at least 5 cm from the origin of the SFA
• Agrees to be available for follow-up and is able to participate in all study testing procedures
• Weight and/or body characteristics that will allow testing with MRI
• No known contraindication to lipid lowering agents
• Serum creatinine level less than 2.5 mg/dL
• Scheduled to undergo or has already undergone an endovascular intervention of a de novo lesion in the SFA with an anticipated result that would satisfy hemodynamic stability OR is medically managed and does not require an intervention at this time
• Compressible arteries (if not, has toe brachial index [TBI] less than 0.7)
• Has/had an A, B, C lesion amendable to a catheter based therapy (prior bypass is acceptable)

Exclusion criteria

• Non-atherosclerotic disease that is responsible for claudication
• Unstable cardiac disease (e.g., unstable angina, heart attack within the 30 days before study entry, uncontrolled coronary heart failure, poorly controlled hypertension [systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mmHg], ventricular arrhythmias)
• Pancreatitis
• Documented hypercoagulable state
• Clinically severe diabetic neuropathy
• Rest pain, gangrene, or tissue loss
• Active peptic ulcer disease or a recent gastrointestinal bleed that would prohibit the use of an anti-platelet (aspirin/Plavix)
• Untreated or unsuccessfully controlled psychiatric disease
• Chronic hepatic disease determined by aspartate transaminase (AST) and/or alanine transaminase (ALT) more than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or total bilirubin more than 2 times ULN
• Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) more than 3 times ULN (may be repeated once before patient is excluded)
• Active gout symptoms or a uric acid level greater than 1.3 times ULN
• Untreated hypothyroidism
• Allergy to Plavix, nickel, titanium, niacin, Ezetimibe, statins, or their derivatives
• Participated in another interventional study within the 30 days before study entry
• Scheduled to undergo planned synchronous bilateral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures
• Requires an above the ankle amputation
• Scheduled to undergo elective surgery within 30 days after the PTA procedure
• Has an implanted pacemaker, defibrillator, neural stimulator, brain clip, insulin pump, cochlear implant, or any other predetermined radiographic finding that would exclude MRI testing
• Has claustrophobia that would prevent MRI testing
• Recent drug or alcohol abuse history (less than 6 months before study entry) or is currently using or abusing excessive alcohol or drugs (excessive alcohol will be defined as greater than 14 drinks per week)
• Past recipient of a cardiac, kidney, liver, lung, or other organ transplant (skin grafts are acceptable)