Normoglucemic men with intermittent claudication (n=41), mean age of 63 years, and sex-, age-, body mass index-, and smoking habit-matched controls (n=75) were compared for plasma lipoprotein and hemostatic variables. The patients had significantly lower levels of large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles (HDLa, HDL$, and HDLjJ and elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentrations than the control subjects. Of the hemostatic variables, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), plasma antiplasmin, plasma fibrinogen, and urine /J-thromboglobulin concentrations were significantly elevated in patients. In intermittent claudication patients Lp(a) correlated significantly with activation of the coagulation system, ie, with the levels of plasma fibrinogen and urine fibrinopeptide A. No correlations between the values for Lp(a) and PAI-1 or plasma a$-antiplasmin were seen. The PAI-1 activity showed significant univariate correlations to the levels of HDL3k, HDL$ (inverse), and very-low-density lipoprotein triglycerides, of which the positive correlation to HDL}, persisted in multivariate analysis (r- M,p<.001). Independent characteristics for intermittent claudication estimated by multiple regression analysis were PAI-1, plasma fibrinogen, and HDL,., with a combinedR1of 36. The intermittent claudication subgroup that was being treated with /3-blockers/thiazides had a higher frequency of coronary heart disease compared with the other patients. In addition, the patients taking 0-blockers/ thiazides had elevated triglyceride concentrations, lower HDL cholesterol with a size shift toward smaller particles, and a tendency toward raised PAI-1 and plasma a,-antiplasmin levels compared with the patient group that did not take these medications.