title: Pitavastatin calcium improves endothelial function and delays the progress of atherosclerosis in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins have proven efficacy in inhibiting the onset and progress of atherosclerosis. The effectiveness of pitavastatin in reversing carotid atherosclerosis associated with hypercholesterolemia (HC) is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the simultaneous effects of pitavastatin calcium on brachial arterial flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and arterial stiffness (β), three surrogate markers of atherosclerosis were studied in HC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind trial was performed with 40 HC subjects who fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were given pitavastatin calcium 1 mg/d (Group 1) or 2 mg/d (Group 2) for 8 weeks. There were 20 patients in each group, and 30 gender- and age-matched healthy subjects as controls were recruited. FMD of the brachial artery, carotid IMT, and arterial stiffness indicated by β were measured at baseline and at 8 weeks after starting pitavastatin calcium therapy using ultrasound techniques. Biochemical tests were also made on all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, higher total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), reduced FMD, and increased β and IMT were observed in HC patients (P<0.001 for all) compared with controls. After 8 weeks, TC was decreased by 20.59%/27.56% and LDL-C 30.92%/35.64%, respectively, in comparison to baseline groups; the HC groups had reduced β and improved endothelial function over the 8-week follow-up (P<0.05-0.001); nonetheless, no significant alterations of IMT were found (P>0.05). Significant negative interactions between TC/LDL and FMD (P<0.05-0.001), positive interactions between TC and IMT (P=0.003) and between TC/LDL and β (P<0.001-0.000) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with pitavastatin calcium exerted favorable effects on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. It also improved carotid atherosclerosis in patients with HC.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Public Health, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China; Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China; Department of Cardiology, Longfu Hospital of Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China; Department of Geriatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China; Department of Emergency, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hui-min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Zhi-hao
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meng-xiong
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011804:Quinolines; C108475:pitavastatin; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT); Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD); Hypercholesterolemia (HC); Pitavastatin calcium