title: The Effects of Atorvastatin on Arterial Stiffness in Male Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: Statin therapy improves lipid profiles and reduces vascular inflammation, but its effects on central arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether statin therapy reduces central arterial stiffness, in a dose-dependent manner, in male patients with type 2 diabetes. Fifty-one patients ceased statin therapy for 6 weeks, followed by randomisation to either 10 or 80 mg of atorvastatin. At randomization, 3 and 12 months, central arterial stiffness was measured via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), along with serum markers of vascular inflammation including high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). PWV decreased from 10.37 ± 1.30 to 9.68 ± 1.19 m/sec (p < 0.01 from baseline) at 3 months and 9.10 ± 1.17 m/sec (p < 0.001 from baseline) at 12 months. hsCRP and OPG decreased significantly at 3 and 12 months. Reductions in PWV did not differ significantly between the groups. Baseline PWV and OPG values correlated strongly (r = 0.48, p < 0.01), as did their response to atorvastatin over 12 months (r = 0.36 delta-OPG and delta-PWV, p < 0.01). Atorvastatin therapy appeared to reduce central arterial stiffness in male type 2 diabetes, with no dose-dependent effect observed. The correlation observed between reductions in PWV and OPG suggests that atorvastatin reduces PWV via direct anti-inflammatory effects on the vasculature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eoin P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: McHenry
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agha
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Donal J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: O'Gorman
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Diarmuid
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4611-8691
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin