Effects of low-dose atorvastatin on arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure augmentation in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
Τίτλος | Effects of low-dose atorvastatin on arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure augmentation in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2013 |
Authors | Kanaki, A. I., Sarafidis P. A., Georgianos P. I., Kanavos K., Tziolas I. M., Zebekakis P. E., & Lasaridis A. N. |
Journal | Am J Hypertens |
Volume | 26 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 608-16 |
Date Published | 2013 May |
ISSN | 1941-7225 |
Λέξεις κλειδιά | Aged, Anticholesteremic Agents, Aorta, Blood Pressure, Comorbidity, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Female, Hemodynamics, Heptanoic Acids, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, Male, Middle Aged, Pulse Wave Analysis, Pyrroles, Treatment Outcome, Vascular Stiffness |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical data suggest that statins exert anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative actions on vasculature beyond their lipid-lowering properties. Whether these pleiotropic effects of statins translate into a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of low-dose atorvastatin treatment on arterial stiffness and central arterial pressure waveforms in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled fashion, 50 hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic patients were allocated to receive 10 mg of atorvastatin or placebo for 26 weeks. Arterial stiffness was assessed by aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) using a Sphygmocor device. Central arterial pressure waveform parameters were estimated by radial artery applanation tonometry. Heart rate-adjusted augmentation index (AIx(75)) was used as measure of wave reflections.RESULTS: At study end, aortic PWV (9.0 ± 1.5 vs. 10.9 ± 2.6 m/sec; P < 0.001) and AIx(75) (24.9% ± 9.7% vs 28.8% ± 11.8%; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the atorvastatin group than that placebo group. Furthermore, decreases in central aortic systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were evident at study-end with atorvastatin but not with placebo (130 ± 8 vs. 138 ± 6 mm Hg, P < 0.001; 48 ± 7 vs. 53 ± 6 mm Hg, P < 0.05, respectively). Atorvastatin-induced reductions in aortic PWV during follow-up showed significant associations with changes in AIx(75) and central aortic systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure.CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that low-dose atorvastatin treatment improves arterial stiffness and exerts a reduction on central aortic pressures. These effects may represent a potential mechanism of cardiovascular risk reduction observed with statin use.CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Database Identifier Number: NCT01126684. |
DOI | 10.1093/ajh/hps098 |
Alternate Journal | Am. J. Hypertens. |
PubMed ID | 23449607 |