Changes in Apolipoprotein A1 and B, Glucose Metabolism, and Skeletal Muscle Mass in Peripheral Artery Disease after Endovascular Treatment: A Pilot Study

Peripheral artery disease impairs walking and physical activity, resulting in further loss of skeletal muscle. However, peripheral artery disease can be treated with endovascular treatment. The thigh muscle has been shown to correlate with systemic skeletal muscle volume. We assessed the changes in the metabolism of apolipoproteins A1 and B, blood glucose, and thigh muscle mass after endovascular treatment in above-the-knee peripheral artery disease where vessels supply the thigh muscle. Mid-thigh muscle volume was measured with computed tomography before and at 6 months after endovascular treatment. Apolipoproteins A1 and B, fasting blood glucose, post-load (75 g oral glucose tolerance test) 2 h-blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were measured concomitantly. The relationships between changes in apolipoproteins A1, apolipoproteins B, blood glucose, post-oral glucose tolerance test 2 h-blood glucose, Rutherford classification, and gain or loss of thigh muscle were investigated. Thigh muscle mass did not correlate with changes in apolipoproteins A1, B, fasting glucose, post-oral glucose tolerance test 2 h-blood glucose, HbA1c, and Rutherford classification. Among patients with muscle gain post-endovascular treatment, apolipoproteins A1 increased significantly, while apolipoproteins B levels were similar. Post-oral glucose tolerance test 2 h-blood glucose levels decreased. Preferable metabolic changes were observed in patients with skeletal muscle gain contrasted with muscle loss.