Effects of statin treatment on serum sex steroids levels and autonomic and erectile function.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of statin treatment on serum sex steroid levels, heart rate variability, erectile function, and libido in patients with hyperlipidemia.


METHODS
A total of 74 patients (mean age 44.7 +/- 7.1 years) with hyperlipidemia were enrolled into this study. After a cardiac examination, the serum lipid levels were measured, and the 24-hour Holter monitoring, heart rate variability, and autonomic test results were also evaluated. Erectile function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Later, atorvastatin 40 mg/day was initiated in all patients and used for the subsequent 12 months. All diagnostic tests (cardiac, biochemical, and autonomic and the IIEF questionnaire) were performed again at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.


RESULTS
A statistically significant decrease was found in the serum lipid levels at 6 months (P <0.05). In contrast, the average IIEF scores (24.7 +/- 6.4 at baseline) had increased to 25.0 +/- 4.9 and 26.1 +/- 5.9 at 6 and 12 months of follow-up, respectively. Although the parasympathetic activities increased and sympathetic activities decreased with atorvastatin treatment, these changes were not statistically significant (P >0.05). In paired comparison, significant differences were found among the IIEF scores of the three periods (P = 0.013). The difference was more evident after 6 months of treatment (IIEF(1vs2) = 0.475; IIEF(1vs3) = 0.027; IIEF(2vs3) = 0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
Although improvement in the lipid profile occurred early during the statin treatment, restoration of erectile function appeared later, which could be attributed to the restoration of endothelial functions by lowered serum lipid levels.
Doğru
M Tolga
MT
Department of Cardiology, University of Kirikkale School of Medicine, Kirikkale, Republic of Turkey.
Başar
M Murad
MM
Simşek
Ali
A
Yuvanç
Ercan
E
Güneri
Mahmut
M
Ebinç
Haksun
H
Batislam
Ertan
E
D000328:Adult; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin