Extermination of atherosclerosis not only in lower extremities

Majority of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are affected by coronary artery disease and other vascular complications, often fatal. PAD is, therefore, powerful indicator of a very high risk of death. The main risk factors are smoking and diabetes mellitus; both factors can be corrected very successfully, in theory. In most of patients suffering from PAD mixed dyslipidemia is found, which presents by moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, since PAD patients are at a very high risk of cardiovascular death, even moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol levels are very dangerous and should be kept below 1.4 mmol/l. Therefore, these patients require a comprehensive intervention of all risk factors, smoking eradication, diabetes control, but most importantly, LDL-cholesterol reduction. In the following article practical approach how to get risk factors under control is presented.