Treatment of Intermittent Claudication with Mesoglycan – A Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study

Summary Objective: To assess the effect of treatment with mesoglycan, a sulphated polysaccharide compound, on the walking capacity of patients with stage II peripheral arterial disease. Methods: Non-diabetic out-patients with intermittent claudication, duplex ultrasound evidence of peripheral atherosclerosis, ankle/arm index 50 mmHg, and absolute walking distance (AWD) between 100 and 300 m (standardised treadmill test) were eligible. After a 5-week run-in on single-blind placebo, patients were randomised to double-blind treatment with mesoglycan, 30 mg/day intramuscularly for 3 weeks followed by 100 mg/day orally for 20 weeks, or matching placebo. All patients received low-dose aspirin and lifestyle instructions. Clinical response was defined as an AWD increase at Week 23 >50% over baseline. Health-related quality of life and ischaemic events were assessed as secondary efficacy variables. Results: 242 patients were randomised and 237 were assessed for clinical response. Patients achieving clinical response were 59/118 with mesoglycan (50.0%) and 31/119 with placebo (26.1%; p