Effects of atorvastatin therapy on the low-density lipoprotein subfraction, remnant-like particles cholesterol, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein within 2 weeks in hypercholesterolemic patients.
The short- and intermediate-term pleiotropic effects of atorvastatin were investigated in 18 hypercholesterolemic patients, as well as the temporal differences in these pleiotropic effects. Atorvastatin was given for 3 months and fasting lipid concentrations, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), fibrinolytic parameters, and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) were measured at baseline and after 2 weeks and 3 months of therapy. Atorvastatin reduced the total cholesterol (273+/-34 vs 188+/-31 mg/dl, p<0.0001), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C: 174+/-28 vs 111+/-23 mg/dl, p<0.0001), small, dense LDL-C (34+/-22 vs 18+/-20%, p<0.01), remnant-like particles cholesterol (RLP-C: 8.8+/-6.0 vs 5.1+/-2.6 mg/ml, p<0.01), and TBARS (3.3+/-1.0 vs 3.1+/-0.9 nmol/ml, p<0.05) after 2 weeks. Atorvastatin decreased the concentration of small, dense LDL-C again after 3 months (8+/-13%, p<0.0001). The plasma concentrations of the fibrinolytic parameters did not change significantly after 3 months of atorvastatin therapy. FMD increased significantly after 2 weeks (5.6+/-2.1 vs 6.3+/-2.0%, p<0.01) and additionally increased after 3 months of therapy (8.3+/-1.9%, p<0.0001). There were no correlations between the pleiotropic effects and the improvement in the lipid profile. The results indicate some short-term pleiotropic effects of atorvastatin therapy within 2 weeks, which may be important with respect to the early benefits of statin therapy.
Sakabe
Koichi
K
Department of Cardiology and Clinical Research, National Zentsuji Hospital, Kagawa, Japan. ksakabe@jun.ncvc.go.jp
Fukuda
Nobuo
N
Wakayama
Katsunori
K
Nada
Teru
T
Shinohara
Hisanori
H
Tamura
Yoshiyuki
Y
D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011758:Pyrroles; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin