HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors suppress the development and progression of carotid artery intimal-medial thickening in hypercholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients.
We reported previously that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (RIs) suppressed in vitro oxidized-low density lipoprotein-induced macrophage growth. To elucidate whether HMG-CoA RIs have anti-atherogenic effects separate from their cholesterol-lowering effect, total plasma levels of cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) and hypercholesterolemia were reduced to normal by one-year treatment with HMG-CoA RIs and intimal-medial thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries (CCA) was measured. Patients with type 2 DM and hypercholesterolemia received either pravastatin (n = 15) or simvastatin (n = 15), while another group of type 2 DM patients with normocholesterolemia did not receive these agents. IMT of the CCA was measured using Powervision SSA-370A, probe 7.5 Mhz. The mean IMT and the rate of increase of IMT were relatively elevated in the order of the simvastatin-treatment group, pravastatin-treatment group, and control group. Our results suggested that HMG-CoA RIs might have anti-atherogenic effects in addition to their cholesterol-lowering effect.
Takahashi
Takeshi
T
Diabetes Center, Kumamoto Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Kumamoto, Japan. t99@zk9.so-net.ne.jp
Ishii
Norio
N
Itai
Kaori
K
Goto
Rieko
R
Higashi
Kiichiro
K
Kobori
Shozo
S
D000368:Aged; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin