To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

Title: Atorvastatin Improves Endothelial Function, May Prevent Vascular Damage in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Presented at WCC

"Atorvastatin Improves Endothelial Function, May Prevent Vascular Damage in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Presented at WCC"

By Cameron Johnston BARCELONA, SPAIN -- September 7, 2006 -- High-dose atorvastatin therapy can lead to improved endothelial function among diabetic patients, even if they have no history of atherosclerotic disease and a normal lipid profile. Magdalena Misiorna-Boehme, MD, department of medical research, Funen Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark, said deteriorating endothelial function is known to occur in diabetic patients. In a presentation here on September 4[^th at the European Society of Cardiology World Congress of Cardiology, Dr. Misiorna-Boehme said that even before signs of endothelial damage begin to manifest themselves, damage to the endothelium may indicate early-stage atherosclerosis. In addition, she said, lowering cholesterol to levels below what is considered normal could help prevent early-stage damage.

In a study of 186 diabetic patients who were treated for 1 year with atorvastatin and/or an antihypertensive agent (amlodipine, perindopril, or doxazosin) or placebo, researchers used high-resolution ultrasound to measure endothelial function through nitric oxide-dependent (flow-mediated) and nitric oxide-independent (nitroglycerin-mediated) dilation of the brachial artery.

The study patients had no history of atherosclerotic disease and no visible indications of elevated cholesterol levels, Dr. Misiorna-Boehme said.

After 1 year of treatment with atorvastatin and/or antihypertensive drugs, lipid profiles were markedly improved among patients in both treatment arms but not those receiving placebo.

In patients receiving atorvastatin alone total cholesterol was reduced by a mean of 2.03 mmol/L. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was reduced by 1.93 mmol/L, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was increased by 0.18 mmol/L. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were improved by 7.1 mm Hg and 4.4 mm Hg, respectively.

Flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery was increased by 1.33% at the end of 1 year in patients receiving atorvastatin alone, and by 0.98% in patients receiving atorvastatin plus antihypertensive. These changes were both significant from baseline, but the between-group differences were not significant.

There were no significant changes in nitroglycerine-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in either treatment arm.

Dr. Misiorna-Boehme said in an interview that clinicians are now "leaning toward" adopting the idea that atorvastatin could be used as a preventive measure for some patients. These findings indicate that it should be considered, especially since the endothelial damage may be irreversible once it becomes detectable, and this is a potential means to prevent this damage. However, she added, this was a physiological study and such studies often have difficulty being translated into clinical practice.

[Presentation title: Improvement of Endothelial Dysfunction After Long Time Intensive Cholesterol Lowering Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes. Poster 3101]

Copyright © 2009 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content.