title: Effects of 12 weeks of atorvastatin therapy on myocardial fibrosis and circulating fibrosis biomarkers in statin-naïve patients with hypertension with atherosclerosis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 12 weeks of atorvastatin treatment on myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertension with atherosclerosis. 15 statin-naïve participants (11 males; mean age 67±10 years) with atherosclerosis were given atorvastatin (40 mg/day) for 12 weeks and underwent echocardiography including ultrasonic tissue characterization by cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (CVIBS). Serum galectin-3 and fibrosis markers including aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), matrix metalloproteinase-2, metalloproteinase-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were also analyzed. After 12 weeks of atorvastatin (40 mg/day) treatment, serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly (204±31 to 140±24 mg/dL and 133±26 to 69±17 ng/mL, respectively, both p<0.001). In myocardial fibrosis analysis, CVIBS increased significantly (6.6±1.9 to 8.5±2.7 dB, p=0.024). In addition, the circulating fibrosis markers serum PIIINP and TIMP-1 decreased significantly (9.5±2.7 to 6.4±1.4 ng/mL, p=0.012 and 299±65 to 250±45 ng/mL, p=0.024, respectively). 12 weeks of medium dose atorvastatin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in myocardial fibrosis as evaluated by morphofunctional parameters and plasma markers of tissue fibrosis.
  
  
  
  NTC00172419; results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medical Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medical Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan National Yang-Ming University, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Kuang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Image, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Taoyuan General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsian-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiology; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol