title: The effects of low-dose fluvastatin and valsartan combination on arterial function: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ageing progressively diminishes arterial functions, even in the absence of traditional risk factors. Our aim was to explore whether age-related arterial changes in middle-aged males could be reversed using short-term, low-dose fluvastatin/valsartan combination intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty apparently healthy, middle-aged males (43.3 ± 5.8 years) were recruited in a double-blind, randomised intervention. Individuals received either 10mg fluvastatin/20mg valsartan daily or placebo over 30 days. The brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and common carotid artery β-stiffness were assessed at baseline and after 30 days, and again 5-10 months after therapy discontinuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arterial function variables significantly improved after 30 days of intervention; FMD improved by 167.7% (P<0.001), PWV by 10.9% (P<0.05) and β-stiffness by 18.8% (P<0.01), whereas no changes were obtained in the placebo group. The favourable outcomes in the intervention group were accompanied by a significant decrease of high sensitivity-C reactive protein levels (1.8-fold; P<0.05). In contrast, lipids and blood pressure remained unchanged. Surprisingly, the beneficial arterial effects were still present to a substantial degree 7 months after completing intervention (remaining % of initial improvement: FMD 82.1%, PWV 69.5% and β-stiffness 68.5%), but declined substantially after 10 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that age-related arterial changes, at least in middle-aged males, can be reversed. Short-term treatment with a low-dose fluvastatin/valsartan combination resulted in a large and long lasting improvement of arterial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Disease, University of Ljubljana Medical Centre, Zaloška 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. mojca.lunder@mf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lunder
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janić
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jug
authors.forename: Mišo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabovič
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000068756:Valsartan; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine