Gender differences in short-term effects of atorvastatin on lipid profile, fibrinolytic parameters, and endothelial function.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the impact of gender on short-term effects of atorvastatin. We investigated the gender differences in the short-term lipid-lowering and pleiotropic effects of atorvastatin therapy.


RESULTS
Seventy-two consecutive patients including 48 women with primary hypercholesterolemia, were assigned prospectively to treatment with atorvastatin (10mg/day) for 3 months. We measured fasting lipid concentrations, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as marker of lipid peroxide, fibrinolytic parameters, and endothelial function by flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery (FMD), at baseline and after 3 months of therapy. We assessed the impact of gender on temporal differences in these parameters. In men, atorvastatin decreased total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and small, dense LDL-cholesterol concentrations, and increased FMD after 3 months. In women, atorvastatin decreased TBARS, triglyceride, and total, LDL, small, dense LDL, and remnant-like lipoprotein particle-cholesterol concentrations, and increased FMD after 3 months. Fibrinolytic parameters did not change significantly in either men or women. With respect to the percent change in those parameters after 3 months, TBARS (-17.6+/-12.4 vs. -0.4+/-18.8%, p<0.01) and small, dense LDL-cholesterol (-96.7+/-8.3 vs. -68.6+/-29.7%, p<0.01) decreased to a greater degree in women, although the relative changes in other parameters were similar between men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
We found gender differences in some of the lipid altering changes, including TBARS and small, dense LDL-cholesterol concentrations, after short-term atorvastatin therapy, which were greater in women. However, short-term atorvastatin therapy may be beneficial in improving endothelial function equally in both men and women.
Sakabe
Koichi
K
Department of Cardiology and Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization, Zentsuji National Hospital, 2-1-1, Senyu-cho, Zentsuji, Kagawa 765-8507, Japan. ksakabe@jun.ncvc.go.jp
Fukuda
Nobuo
N
Fukuda
Yamato
Y
Wakayama
Katsunori
K
Nada
Teru
T
Morishita
Satofumi
S
Shinohara
Hisanori
H
Tamura
Yoshiyuki
Y
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011758:Pyrroles; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin