Effects of atorvastatin on red-blood cell Na(+)/Li(+) countertransport in hyperlipidemic patients with and without hypertension.
BACKGROUND
To explore the effect of short-term cholesterol-lowering treatment with atorvastatin on erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport (Na(+)/Li(+) CT) activity.


METHODS
Group A consisted of 30 patients (14 men) with mild essential hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP), 140-159 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP, 90-99 mm Hg) and primary hypercholesterolemia low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol >4.1 mmol/l and triglycerides (TG) <2.8 mmol/l), group B of 30 normotensive patients (16 men) with primary hypercholesterolemia, while 37 (18 men) healthy volunteers comprised the control group. After a 6-week dietary lead-in, all eligible patients were prescribed 20 mg/day of atorvastatin. Anthropometric data, blood-pressure (BP) measurements and determinations of lipid, non-lipid metabolic parameters (including homeostasis model assessment index, (HOMA-IR)) and erythrocyte Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.


RESULTS
At baseline Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity was significantly higher in group A and B compared with the control group and correlated directly with obesity indices, systolic and diastolic BP, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG, apolipoprotein B (apoB), HOMA-IR, uric acid and inversely with high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apoA1. Systolic and diastolic BP levels, HOMA-IR and Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity were significantly decreased after atorvastatin treatment in both patient groups. The reduction in Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity correlated with baseline Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity and the changes in HOMA-IR values.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term treatment with atorvastatin for patients with hypercholesterolemia, and with or without essential hypertension, is associated with a significant reduction in the erythrocyte Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity, BP levels and insulin resistance independent of concomitant changes in lipid parameters.
Kosmidou
Maria S
MS
Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. mkosmidou@uhi.gr
Hatzitolios
Apostolos I
AI
Adamidou
Alexandra
A
Giannopoulos
Sotirios
S
Raikos
Nikolaos
N
Parharidis
George
G
Milionis
Haralampos J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016014:Linear Models; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium; D000069059:Atorvastatin