RESUMO
ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of simvastatin in elderly patients with lower extremity atherosclerosis disease. MethodsOne hundred and twenty-eight patients were divided into 2 groups:64 cases with intermittent claudication(group l)and 64 asymptomatic cases with intermittent claudication(group 2).Sixty-four normal cases were served as control group(group 3).THe patients of group l were given simvastatin for 18 months.The differences in levels of blood lipids and C-reactive protein(CRP),the size of plaque and the changes between pre-and post-treatments were observed among three groups. ResultsTC,LDL-C and CRP levels were significantly higher in group l than those in group 3 before the treatment[(6.3±1.7)mmol/L vs. (5.2±1.3)mmol/L,(3.8±1.3)mmol/Lυs.(2.1±1.3)mmol/L,(5.7±1.5)mmol/Lυs.(3.3±1.4)mmol/L,respectively,all P＜0.05].TC,LDL-C and CRP levels significantly decreased in group0.053.There were no differences in plaque size and in plaque number in group 1 between pre-and post -treatments(both P＞0.05),but the clinieal symptoms were relieved or disappeared.There were significant differences in plaque size,blood lipid level and CRP level in group 2 after 18 months treatment(all P＜0.05). ConclusionsSimvastatin can delay the development of artherioscIerosis in the patients with lower extremity atherosclerosis disease.CRP can be used as an early index of disease development and illness monitoring.