title: Short-term atorvastatin therapy improves arterial stiffness of middle-aged systemic lupus erythematosus patients with pathological pulse wave velocity.
abstract: Objectives Statins have been proposed as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to their immunomodulatory properties, their role restoring endothelial function and preventing atherosclerosis. We evaluate the effect of a short period treatment with a low dose of atorvastatin and its withdrawal on early stage subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods Thirty-seven SLE females received 20 mg/day atorvastatin during eight weeks. At baseline, at the end of treatment and six months after atorvastatin withdrawal, disease activity, subclinical atherosclerosis -assessed by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) - and quantification of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) - as a surrogate biological marker of subclinical atherosclerosis - were carried out. Results The group of SLE patients with baseline pathological arterial stiffness showed a significant decrease of PWV after atorvastatin therapy (8.43 ± 1.45 m/s vs 7.42 ± 1.06 m/s; p = 0.002) that is maintained six months after treatment finished. Only patients of the middle-aged group showed a nearly significant decrease in the PWV measured along the study (7.16 ± 1.23 m/s vs 6.76 ± 0.82 m/s; p = 0.05). Atorvastatin induced a significant decrease in the circulating EPC percentage (0.65 ± 0.67 vs 0.40 ± 0.31; p = 0.023) as well as a downward trend of disease activity that it is observed by a decrease in SLE disease activity index simultaneously with an increase in C3 complement and significant decrease in serum concentration of vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) and sVCAM-1. Conclusions Short-term atorvastatin therapy reduces arterial stiffness of SLE patients with baseline pathological PWV, who are mainly in the group of middle-aged patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether these patients would benefit from statin therapy in preventing cardiovascular events.
authors: 1 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Castejon
authors: 1 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Castañeda
authors: 1 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sollet
authors: 1 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mellor-Pita
authors: 1 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Tutor-Ureta
authors: 2 Neurology Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Jimenez-Ortiz
authors: 1 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIPHIM (University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Research Institute), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Yebra-Bango
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus; arterial stiffness; atorvastatin; early stage subclinical atherosclerosis; endothelial progenitor cells