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Effects of atorvastatin on aortic pulse wave velocity in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia: a preliminary study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 16, pages 705–710 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

As statins may contribute to plaque stabilisation, it is important to evaluate whether these drugs may modify arterial stiffness. In 23 patients, aged 32–70 years, with hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia, a double-blind randomised study vs placebo was performed to evaluate whether atorvastatin was able to modify aortic stiffness, measured from aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), after a 12-week treatment. The results revealed that atorvastatin did not change blood pressure, significantly lowered (P<0.003; <0.002) plasma total and LDL cholesterol, and increased aortic PWV by +8% (vs −2% under placebo) (P⩽0.05). The percentage changes in plasma total and LDL cholesterol and in PWV were significantly and negatively correlated, independent of blood pressure level. The finding of increased aortic PWV after 12-week statin treatment agrees with studies in monkeys, indicating that, at the early phase of hypolipidaemic diet but not later, aortic PWV increases transiently as a consequence of the significant reduction of lipid vascular content. In conclusion, the present results support the possibility that statins might contribute to a change in arterial stiffness independent of blood pressure level, and suggest that long-term studies in humans are needed to evaluate the contribution of arterial elasticity to statin-induced vascular remodelling.

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Acknowledgements

This study was performed with the help of INSERM, Association Claude Bernard and GPH-CV. We thank Mrs Anne Safar for her skilful technical help.

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Broussais Hospital, Paris, France

    J Raison, A Rudnichi & ME Safar

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  1. J Raison
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  2. A Rudnichi
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  3. ME Safar
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Correspondence to ME Safar.

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Raison, J., Rudnichi, A. & Safar, M. Effects of atorvastatin on aortic pulse wave velocity in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia: a preliminary study. J Hum Hypertens 16, 705–710 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001470

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