Effects of Niacin on Good Cholesterol in People With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Overview

Atherosclerosis is a disorder in the body that is characterized by cholesterol plaque formation in various arteries, causing narrowing of the artery and a limitation in blood flow. Depending on which artery the plaque is in, different clinical conditions occur. In adults common areas include in the heart arteries, in the neck arteries and in the aorta and lower leg arteries. When it affects the lower limbs it is known as peripheral arterial disease - PAD. The main symptom of PAD is called "claudication" and is described as pain or discomfort in the legs when walking. The aim of PAD treatment is to improve walking distance and quality of life in those with intermittent claudication, and to decrease long term complications including illness and death. An important controlling factor of these cholesterol plaques is a type of cholesterol called HDL (High density lipoprotein). This study aims to look at the effect that raising HDL for a prolonged period has on blood markers of inflammation and on the cholesterol plaque composition in patients with PAD. This investigation will also have relevance to the effects of HDL elevation on plaque composition and inflammation in other areas of the body including the heart, neck and brain arteries. Twenty (20) PAD patients with will be recruited into the study. The investigators anticipate recruitment of all 20 patients within 12 months. The 20 PAD patients all must have significant leg pains when walking, and after review by a doctor, be determined to have narrowings in the leg artery that they will plan to operate on. Patients will be randomized to either niacin (Tredaptive, 1g/day) or matching placebo for 8 weeks (prior to operation) After the 8 week period they will then go on to receive the normal interventional treatment as planned. Blood samples will be taken at enrollment and at the 8 week mark prior to surgery. The plaque that is removed at the time of operation will also be sent to the lab for analysis. The investigators hope to show with this study that by raising the levels of HDL with extended release niacin, there are positive effects on the amount of cholesterol in the plaque, and on the markers in the blood of inflammation and thrombosis. The hypothesis is that elevation of HDL with Niacin will have anti-atherosclerotic actions including: Lower plaque lipid content, Reduced plaque macrophage infiltration, Reduced monocyte activation, Reduced neutrophil adhesion, Inhibition of inflammation and Inhibition of thrombotic markers.