NCT00712049

Effects of Nicotinic Acid Plus Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin Alone on Carotid and Femoral Intima-Media Thickness in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease (NASCIT)

Effects of Nicotinic Acid Plus Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin Alone on Carotid and Femoral Intima-Media Thickness in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease (NASCIT)-A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Dyslipidaemia is characterized by low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), elevated triglycerides and an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) particles, and has been unequivocally established as a most important cardiovascular risk factor. While statins are effective in reducing plasma levels of LDL-c, these drugs have only modest effects on raising HDL-c (typically by less than 10%), even with aggressive statin therapy. However, increasing evidence suggests that low HDL-c might be at least as relevant as high LDL-c in promoting the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The beneficial effect of raising HDL-c on clinical outcome has already been demonstrated by several studies. Nicotinic acid is the most potent agent available for raising plasma levels of HDL-c by up to 29% at clinically recommended doses, and substantially lowers triglycerides and LDL-c. Furthermore, nicotinic acid is also the most potent lipid lowering agent available that reduces Lp(a), an independent marker of cardiovascular risk. In a recent study patients with coronary artery disease had a 21% increase in HDL-c and a 13% decrease in triglycerides, and these beneficial effects on lipid status may have contributed to a stabilization or regression of carotid intima-media-thickness (IMT).The impact in patients with advanced atherosclerosis like peripheral artery disease (PAD) in unknown. The investigators hypothesized that nicotinic acid in addition to statin therapy may inhibit progression of peripheral arterial atherosclerosis. Therefore, the aim of the present randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of nicotinic acid (daily dose starting with 500 mg, up to 2000mg) in addition to simvastatin (40 mg daily) versus simvastatin (40mg daily) monotherapy in patients with low serum HDL-C levels and PAD with respect to changes of carotid and femoral IMT, changes of patients´ lipid status and occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Conditions

• Dyslipidemia
• Atherosclerosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	simvastatin	simvastatin 40 mg
DRUG	Nicotinic Acid	daily dose starting with 500 mg, up to 2000mg

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-06-01
• First posted: 2008-07-09
• Last updated: 2011-07-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Austria