Dyslipidemia in Patients with Arteriosclerotic Obstruction in Lower Extremities and the Clinical Usefulness of Its Active Correction

Lipids metabolism was investigated in a total of 85 patients (70 males and 15 females) with symptomatic arteriosclerotic obstruction (ASO) in the lower extremities. Dyslipidemia had been already pointed out as one of the risk factors for obstructive coronary lesions. 36 patients had a serum total cholesterol (TC) level higher than 220mg/dl (or 42.4%), while patient with a serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level higher than 140mg/dl. In a total of 42 patients (49.4%), dyslipidemia with high levels of both types of cholesterol were confirmed.<br>Twenty-eight of the patients have been treated with a series of LDL apheresis in which LDL is selectively removed in the manner of extracorporeal circulation. Dyslipidemia has been rapidly corrected after an initial couple of the apheresis, while clinical signs of ASO have produced parallel improvements in such conditions as coldness of the legs in 17 of 19 patients (89.5%), intermittent claudication in 14 of 17 patients (82.4%), foot pain at rest in 15 of 18 patients (83.3%), arterial pulsation in 12 of 16 patients (75.0%) and diminution in the size of ulcers or necrosis in 3 of 5 patients (60.0%).<br>Improvements in plethysmographic and thermographic findings have been concurrently observed in 10 out of 10 patients (100.0%) and 13 out of 14 patients (92.9%), respectively.<br>One tentative conclusion is that dyslipidemia may be a risk factor for symptomatic ASO in the lower extremities, and that attempts to actively correct it may be worth while.