Long-term treatment effect of atorvastatin on aortic stiffness in hypercholesterolaemic patients.
| Title: | Long-term treatment effect of atorvastatin on aortic stiffness in hypercholesterolaemic patients. |
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| Authors: | Kontopoulos AG; Atherosclerosis Unit, Aristotelian University and Hippocration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.; Athyros VG; Pehlivanidis AN; Demitriadis DS; Papageorgiou AA; Boudoulas H |
| Source: | Current medical research and opinion [Curr Med Res Opin] 2003; Vol. 19 (1), pp. 22-7. |
| Publication Type: | Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0351014 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0300-7995 (Print) Linking ISSN: 03007995 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Curr Med Res Opin Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 1995- : Newbury, Berkshire, U.K. : Informa Healthcare; Original Publication: London, M. D. Promotions, ltd. |
| MeSH Terms: | Anticholesteremic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Aortic Valve/*physiopathology ; Heptanoic Acids/*therapeutic use ; Hypercholesterolemia/*drug therapy ; Pyrroles/*therapeutic use; Anticholesteremic Agents/administration & dosage ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases/physiopathology ; Heptanoic Acids/administration & dosage ; Hypercholesterolemia/physiopathology ; Pyrroles/administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Atorvastatin ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placebos ; Time ; United States |
| Abstract: | Aim: To assess the effect of atorvastatin on aortic stiffness in hypercholesterolaemic patients free of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus.; Methods and Results: The study included 36 patients (25 men and 11 women, mean age 56 +/- 12 years); 18 patients had stable coronary heart disease (CHD) and 18 were free of CHD at baseline. All patients received atorvastatin (20 mg/day) for a 2-year period. Aortic stiffness was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at baseline and 2 years later. At baseline, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and LDL-C/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio were positively related to aortic stiffness (p < 0.001 for all). The mean change in lipid parameters during treatment was: total cholesterol -38%, LDL-C -46%, triglycerides -29%, and HDL-C +6%, all significant (p = 0.029 to < 0.0001). After the 2-year treatment with atorvastatin, aortic stiffness was significantly reduced by 14% (p = 0.019). An improvement of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction by 13% (p < 0.001) and a reduction of LV mass index by 9% (p = 0.008) were also recorded. The change in aortic stiffness was similar in patients with or without CHD.; Conclusion: Long-term treatment with atorvastatin improves aortic stiffness; this index is related to total and coronary mortality. Moreover, assessment of aortic stiffness may be useful in identifying which hypercholesterolaemic patients should be treated aggressively, regardless of CHD. The aortic stiffness effect may eventually become an index of the efficacy of lipid lowering treatment. |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Anticholesteremic Agents); 0 (Heptanoic Acids); 0 (Placebos); 0 (Pyrroles); A0JWA85V8F (Atorvastatin) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20030329 Date Completed: 20030617 Latest Revision: 20260128 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| DOI: | 10.1185/030079902125001290 |
| PMID: | 12661776 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article