Low-dose atorvastatin improves dyslipidemia and vascular function in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis after one year of treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is frequently associated with hypercholesterolemia and with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Statins lower serum cholesterol levels and may thus improve the cardiovascular risk in PBC patients. The aim of our study was to prospectively examine the efficacy of low-dose atorvastatin on cholestasis as well as cardiovascular risk markers such as dyslipidemia and vascular function in patients with PBC.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with early-stage (biopsy proven and AMA positive) PBC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) above 130mg/dL were included in this single-center study and treated with atorvastatin 10mg per day for one year.


RESULTS
Concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL triglycerides, oxLDL, IgG and sVCAM-1 decreased significantly after 48 weeks of atorvastatin treatment. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery as an indicator of vascular function significantly increased, while carotid artery intima-media thickness and vascular wall stiffness did not progress under treatment. No statistical differences in liver enzymes were observed except a transient increase of alkaline phosphatase.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with low-dose atorvastatin is safe in early-stage PBC, effectively reduces total cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL triglycerides, oxLDL and sVCAM-1 and improves vascular function as reflected by FMD, without affecting cholestasis progression. Therefore, statin therapy should be considered in PBC patients with additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Stojakovic
Tatjana
T
Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Claudel
Thierry
T
Putz-Bankuti
Csilla
C
Fauler
Günter
G
Scharnagl
Hubert
H
Wagner
Martin
M
Sourij
Harald
H
Stauber
Rudolf E
RE
Winkler
Karl
K
März
Winfried
W
Wascher
Thomas C
TC
Trauner
Michael
M
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin