Grant: Project Grant

Conditions that impact blood vessels and the heart, cause about 18 million deaths each year. One such condition, that is not often discussed, is peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits within an inflamed artery (vessel that carries blood away from the heart). The narrowing of arteries obstructs blood flow to the affected body parts. The legs are frequently affected, but so are the heart and brain. The reduced blood flow to the legs can cause disabling leg pain and limit walking. Inflamed arteries are also prone to the sudden formation of blood clots, which can block the arteries and cause leg gangrene, heart attack, and stroke. Surgery to unblock the arteries, blood thinning medication, blood pressure-lowering medication and cholesterol-lowering medication can help prevent and treat complications, but too many patients still end up with complications. Existing therapies do not primarily treat inflammation. Because inflammation is important for fatty deposit build-up and clotting, it makes sense to develop anti-inflammatory medicines to prevent these complications. Colchicine is an anti-gout drug and an inexpensive antiinflammatory medication that also reduces complications in patients with angina or heart attack, but it has not been tested in patients with PAD. Accordingly, our (LEADER-PAD) study will examine whether colchicine will reduce complications in patients with PAD.