title: Influence of atorvastatin on blood pressure control in treated hypertensive, normolipemic patients - An open, pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine whether a high dose of atorvastatin lowers blood pressure (BP) in normolipemic patients with well controlled primary arterial hypertension and if this effect is associated with alteration of biomarkers of endothelial function and oxidative stress. In this open-label study, normolipemic patients (n=56) were randomized in the proportion of 2:1 to receive atorvastatin 80 mg daily for 3 months (statin-treated, ST n=39), or to previous therapy (statin-free, SF). BP was measured using a 24-h ambulatory BP measurement device. Plasma levels of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) (prostacyclin metabolite), serum nitric oxide (NO) and levels of autoantibodies immunoglobulin G against oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean change in systolic BP and diastolic BP for ST was - 5.7 mmHg (95% CI -4.1 to -7.2 mmHg) and -3.9 mmHg (95% CI -2.7 to -5.0 mmHg), respectively. Hypotensive statin effect was independent of lipid lowering. No change of BP in SF patients was observed. In ST, prostacyclin metabolites and NO concentrations were not significantly increased and autoantibodies against ox-LDL concentrations did not change. In ST, the decrease in BP correlated with increase in NO and decrease in autoantibodies against ox-LDL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose atorvastatin resulted in reduction of BP independently of lipid-lowering effect, changes in endothelial function and oxidative stress, but it was related to the increase in NO and decrease in autoantibodies against ox-LDL. However, because of the open design of the study, these results should be carefully debated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Bialystok, Poland. agnieszka.kuklinska@gmail.com
authors.forename: Agnieszka M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kuklinska
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mroczko
authors.forename: Wlodzimierz J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Musial
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sawicki
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozieradzka
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Usowicz-Szarynska
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szmitkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin