title: Effects of low-dose atorvastatin on arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure augmentation in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental and clinical data suggest that statins exert anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative actions on vasculature beyond their lipid-lowering properties. Whether these pleiotropic effects of statins translate into a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of low-dose atorvastatin treatment on arterial stiffness and central arterial pressure waveforms in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled fashion, 50 hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic patients were allocated to receive 10 mg of atorvastatin or placebo for 26 weeks. Arterial stiffness was assessed by aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) using a Sphygmocor device. Central arterial pressure waveform parameters were estimated by radial artery applanation tonometry. Heart rate-adjusted augmentation index (AIx(75)) was used as measure of wave reflections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At study end, aortic PWV (9.0 ± 1.5 vs. 10.9 ± 2.6 m/sec; P < 0.001) and AIx(75) (24.9% ± 9.7% vs 28.8% ± 11.8%; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the atorvastatin group than that placebo group. Furthermore, decreases in central aortic systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were evident at study-end with atorvastatin but not with placebo (130 ± 8 vs. 138 ± 6 mm Hg, P < 0.001; 48 ± 7 vs. 53 ± 6 mm Hg, P < 0.05, respectively). Atorvastatin-induced reductions in aortic PWV during follow-up showed significant associations with changes in AIx(75) and central aortic systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that low-dose atorvastatin treatment improves arterial stiffness and exerts a reduction on central aortic pressures. These effects may represent a potential mechanism of cardiovascular risk reduction observed with statin use.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Database Identifier Number: NCT01126684.
authors: Section of Nephrology and Hypertension, 1st Department of Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Aggeliki I
authors: AI
authors: Kanaki
authors: Pantelis A
authors: PA
authors: Sarafidis
authors: Panagiotis I
authors: PI
authors: Georgianos
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Kanavos
authors: Ioannis M
authors: IM
authors: Tziolas
authors: Pantelis E
authors: PE
authors: Zebekakis
authors: Anastasios N
authors: AN
authors: Lasaridis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin