Fluvastatin therapy improves microcirculation in patients with hyperlipidaemia.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fluvastatin on the microcirculation of patients with hyperlipidaemia (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol > 160 mg/dL, triglycerides < 350 mg/dl) inadequately controlled by diet. After a dietary run-in of 4 weeks, patients were randomised in a double-blind study to receive fluvastatin 40 mg twice daily (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) for 12 weeks. The effect on microcirculation was assessed using capillary microscopy and laser Doppler fluxmetry at the nailfold at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after initiation of therapy. Capillaroscopy showed that fluvastatin improved microcirculation, i.e. time to peak flow during postocclusive reactive hyperaemia dropped from 19.7 +/- 7.2 s at baseline to 12.3 +/- 9.5 s at week 6 (P < 0.01) and 10.6 +/- 6.5 s at week 12 (P < 0.0001). These results were confirmed using laser Doppler fluxmetry to study microcirculation in thermoregulatory capillaries at the same site. A significant decrease in total and LDL-cholesterol was achieved during fluvastatin therapy. In conclusion, fluvastatin therapy improves microcirculation in nutritive as well as thermoregulatory capillaries in hypercholesterolaemic patients within 6 weeks.
Medical Department I, Center of Internal Medicine, University-Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
E
E
Haak
C
C
Abletshauser
S
S
Weber
C
C
Goedicke
N
N
Martin
N
N
Hermanns
K
K
Lackner
K
K
Kusterer
K H
KH
Usadel
T
T
Haak
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D000077340:Fluvastatin