title: The effect of pitavastatin calcium on endothelial dysfunction induced by hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether endothelial function can be improved by the treatment of pitavastatin calcium via its antioxidant properties in hypercholesteremia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with hypercholesteremia were randomized to receive pitavastatin calcium 1 or 2 mg/day for 8 weeks. Among them, four people were lost in the follow-up period. Before and after treatment, clinical and biochemical characteristics, markers of oxidative stress (plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2α) and serum gp91phox) were determined and concomitantly endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured by ultrasound examination. Thirty healthy subjects were chosen as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For individuals with hypercholesteremia, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and serum gp91phox were significantly increased (p<0.001 for all) and plasma 8-iso-prostaglandinF2α (8-iso-PGF2α) was significantly higher (p<0.05), while FMD was obviously impaired (p<0.001). Total cholesterol, LDL-C and serum gp91phox were significantly reduced (p<0.001 for all), plasma 8-iso-PGF2α was lower and FMD was significantly improved after pitavastatin calcium treatment compared with those before treatment in any group (p<0.05 for both). However, there was no significant difference between the 1-mg and 2-mg pitavastatin calcium groups post-therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endothelial dysfunction induced by hypercholesteremia can be ameliorated by pitavastatin calcium treatment, which occurs in part through its antioxidative properties.
authors.affiliation: Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Department of Cardiology, No. 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, 250012, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui-min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: De-zhong
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-hao
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011804:Quinolines; C108475:pitavastatin