Effects of cerivastatin on vascular function of human radial and left internal thoracic arteries.
BACKGROUND
Statins may enhance vascular function independently of effects on cholesterol. This study investigated the ability of statins to modulate the vascular recovery of arteries used as coronary bypass grafts.


METHODS
Specimens of radial artery and left internal thoracic artery were obtained during coronary artery bypass grafting. The specimens were divided into vascular rings, which were incubated in the absence or presence of cerivastatin (10(-6) mol/L) for either 2 or 24 hours. Using an organ bath technique, endothelial function was examined using acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/L) after contraction by 3x10(-8) mol/L of endothelin-1.


RESULTS
Time-related endothelial dysfunction was shown in the control group of radial artery but not in the cerivastatin group: maximal endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the control and cerivastatin groups were 56.8% +/- 10.2% and 65.9% +/- 10.1% at 2 hours and 39.4% +/- 4.7% and 68.4% +/- 5.0% (p < 0.01, vs control) at 24 hours, respectively. On the other hand, in the left internal thoracic artery, those in the control and cerivastatin groups were 38.3% +/- 8.2% and 45.0% +/- 5.5% at 2 hours and 38.1% +/- 8.2% and 56.5% +/- 8.8% at 24 hours, respectively (NS).


CONCLUSIONS
In radial artery, cerivastatin significantly preserved endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which diminished with time in the control group. This could have very important implications in the clinical practice of coronary artery bypass grafting.
Nakamura
Koki
K
National Heart and Lung Institute, Heart Science Centre, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
Al-Ruzzeh
Sharif
S
Chester
Adrian H
AH
Schmidt
Ilona
I
Barbir
Mahmoud
M
Yacoub
Magdi H
MH
Amrani
Mohamed
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; C086276:cerivastatin