title: Short-term effect of atorvastatin on carotid artery elasticity: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have examined the early effects of statins on carotid artery elasticity, a potential surrogate marker of cardiovascular risk. This study examined the short-term effects of atorvastatin 80 mg daily on carotid elasticity measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 40 stroke-free and statin-naive subjects older than age 45 (mean age, 70±7 years; 55% men; 64% Caribbean-Hispanic). Outcome measures included carotid stiffness indices at 14 and 30 days after initiation of treatment. The systolic and diastolic diameters of the right common carotid artery were averaged from multiple B-mode imaging frames. Absolute and relative changes of strain [(systolic diameter-diastolic diameter)/diastolic diameter], stiffness (β) [ln (systolic/diastolic blood pressure)/strain], and distensibility (1/β adjusted for wall thickness) from baseline were compared by the repeated measures t test and were considered significant at α=0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline mean stiffness was 0.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-0.10). It significantly decreased at day 30 to 0.05 (CI, 0.04-0.06; P<0.01). Mean baseline distensibility was 15.25 (CI, 13.18-17.32), increasing significantly at day 30 to 17.23 (CI, 14.01-20.45; P<0.05). An improvement in distensibility of ≥10% from baseline was observed in 29 (73%) subjects. Changes in stiffness and distensibility were maximal among subjects with baseline low-density lipoprotein levels<130 mg/dL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term treatment with high-dose atorvastatin was associated with improvement in the carotid elasticity metrics. Carotid artery elasticity measured by B-mode ultrasound is a simple noninvasive measure of arterial wall function and may be a useful surrogate end point in clinical trials targeting individuals at increased risk for atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Elizabeth V
authors: EV
authors: Ratchford
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Gutierrez
authors: Dalia
authors: D
authors: Lorenzo
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: McClendon
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Della-Morte
authors: Janet T
authors: JT
authors: DeRosa
authors: Mitchell S V
authors: MS
authors: Elkind
authors: Ralph L
authors: RL
authors: Sacco
authors: Tatjana
authors: T
authors: Rundek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin