Symptomatic and Systemic Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease Using Novel Imaging

Who can take part

• Male or female aged > 18 years
• Symptomatic atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease; Intermittent claudication; with ankle/arm blood pressure ratio <0.90 or artery stenosis >50% in addition to at least one of the following; >1 vascular bed affected by atherosclerosis; Diabetes; Heart failure; Chronic kidney disease (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2); Rest pain or necrosis of limb or gangrene of limb; Revascularization defined as limb bypass surgery or endovascular revascularization procedures (irrespective of the specific device used), including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent of iliac or infra-inguinal arteries or extra-anatomical bypass surgery; Leg or foot amputation for arterial vascular indications
• Ability to give written or verbal informed consent

Who cannot take part

• Recent lower limb revascularisation for symptomatic disease (<6 weeks)
• Renal failure (glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2)
• Cirrhosis or severe chronic liver disease
• Current or planned long term use of cyclosporine, verapamil, HIV protease inhibitors, azole antifungals, or macrolide antibiotics (apart from azithromycin)
• Contraindication to colchicine or iodinated contrast
• Long term requirement for colchicine for another clinical indication
• Active diarrhoea
• Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
• Women of child-bearing potential not protected by reliable contraception or is planning conception during the study
• Patients deemed unlikely to return for follow up
• Life expectancy <1 year
• Inability or unwilling to give informed consent