title: Effects of atorvastatin and vitamin C on endothelial function of hypercholesterolemic patients.
abstract: We tested the effects of vitamin C and atorvastatin treatment on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation in 18 hypercholesterolemic patients (ten men and eight women, aged 20-46 years) in comparison with 12 normal volunteers (seven men and five women, aged 20-45 years). The responses of the forearm blood flow (FBF) to acetylcholine (ACh) (7.5, 15 and 30 microg/min), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (0.8, 1.6, 3.2 microg/min) and L-NMMA (2, 4, 8 micromol/min) were evaluated at baseline and after 1 month of atorvastatin (10 mg/day) treatment. Drugs were infused into the brachial artery and FBF was measured by strain-gauge plethysmography. At baseline, the response to ACh was significantly attenuated in hypercholesterolemics versus controls: at the highest dose (30 microg/min), FBF was 27.0+/-3.4 versus 11.5+/-1.9 ml.100 ml tissue(-1).min(-1) respectively (P<0.0001). No significant differences were found between groups during SNP infusion. The atorvastatin treatment significantly improved ACh-stimulated FBF: at highest dose the FBF increased to 14.9+/-1.5 ml.100 ml tissue(-1). min(-1) (P<0.0001). Similarly, the L-NMMA endothelial effects were significantly enhanced by lipid-lowering treatment, supporting the improvement of basal nitric oxide. Vitamin C increased ACh-vasodilation in the same way before and after atorvastatin treatment. In conclusion, the endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemics is due to an oxidative stress and atorvastatin rapidly improves both basal and stimulated endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica 'G Salvatore', Policlinico Mater Domini, Via Tommaso Campanella, University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy. perticone@unicz.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perticone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceravolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cloro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candigliota
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scozzafava
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mongiardo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastroroberto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chello
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mattioli
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010991:Plethysmography; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D000109:Acetylcholine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid