Methods: A total of 102 patients were randomized to either mono-therapy with simvastatin (40 mg daily) or triple-therapy with simvastatin (40 mg daily), extended-release niacin (1500 mg daily), and ezetimibe (10 mg daily). MRI was performed at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months. SFA wall, lumen, and total vessel volumes were quantified. MRI-derived SFA parameters and lipids were analyzed with multilevel models and nonparametric tests, respectively.
Results: Baseline characteristics did not differ between mono and triple-therapy groups, except for ethnicity (p = 0.02). SFA wall, lumen, and total vessel volumes increased non-significantly for both groups between baseline and 24-months. Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly reduced at 12 months with triple-therapy compared with mono-therapy (p = 0.01).
Conclusion: No significant differences were observed between mono-therapy using simvastatin and triple-therapy with simvastatin, extended-release niacin, and ezetimibe for 24-month changes in SFA wall, lumen, and total vessel volumes.
Clinical trial registration information: NCT00687076; Link: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00687076.
Keywords: ABI; Atherosclerosis; ICC; Lipids; MRI; Magnetic resonance imaging; PAD; PDW; Peripheral artery disease; Proton-density-weighted; SFA; T1-weighted; T1W; T2-weighted; T2W; ankle brachial index; intra-class correlation; magnetic resonance imaging; peripheral artery disease; superficial femoral artery.
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