Pitavastatin calcium improves endothelial function and delays the progress of atherosclerosis in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Background: Statins have proven efficacy in inhibiting the onset and progress of atherosclerosis. The effectiveness of pitavastatin in reversing carotid atherosclerosis associated with hypercholesterolemia (HC) is unknown. Objectives: To explore the simultaneous effects of pitavastatin calcium on brachial arterial flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and arterial stiffness (β), three surrogate markers of atherosclerosis were studied in HC patients. Methods: A randomized, double-blind trial was performed with 40 HC subjects who fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were given pitavastatin calcium 1 mg/d (Group 1) or 2 mg/d (Group 2) for 8 weeks. There were 20 patients in each group, and 30 gender-and age-matched healthy subjects as controls were recruited. FMD of the brachial artery, carotid IMT, and arterial stiffness indicated by β were measured at baseline and at 8 weeks after starting pitavastatin calcium therapy using ultrasound techniques. Biochemical tests were also made on all subjects. Results: At baseline, higher total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), reduced FMD, and increased β and IMT were observed in HC patients (P<0.001 for all) compared with controls. After 8 weeks, TC was decreased by 20.59%/27.56% and LDL-C 30.92%/35.64%, respectively, in comparison to baseline groups; the HC groups had reduced β and improved endothelial function over the 8-week follow-up (P<0.05-0.001); nonetheless, no significant alterations of IMT were found (P>0.05). Significant negative interactions between TC/LDL and FMD (P<0.05-0.001), positive interactions between TC and IMT (P=0.003) and between TC/LDL and β (P<0.001-0.000) were found. Conclusions: Treatment with pitavastatin calcium exerted favorable effects on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. It also improved carotid atherosclerosis in patients with HC.

Liver X Receptors and their Agonists: Targeting for Cholesterol Homeostasis and Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Accordingly, Lactobacillus plantarum PCS26 has the potential to promote biliary cholesterol efflux and inhibit intestinal absorption, but it also warrants study in in vivo clinical trials for further assessment. Statins are extremely effective at reducing cardiovascular risk, as demonstrated in clinical studies that have confirmed the inhibition of the onset and progression of atherosclerosis (Zhao et al, 2015). Byun et al reported that pravastatin enhances hepatic bile acid synthesis via the PPARγ-LXRα-CYP7A1 pathway and activates PPARγ-LXRα-ABCG5/ABCG8, which excretes cholesterol into bile (Byun et al, 2014).…”

Regular Tennis Exercise May Improve the Vascular Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women: The Influence of Hemodynamics

“…The literature illuminates that exercise can improve vascular endothelial function in various ways, such as reducing blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure levels, promoting nitric oxygen release, etc. [ 47 , 48 ]. Tanahash et al [ 49 ] conducted 12 weeks of aerobic training in 102 adults and found that the brachial artery WSS increased after intervention.…”

O Efeito da Atorvastatina + Aspirina na Função Endotelial Difere com a Idade em Pacientes com HIV: Um Estudo de Caso-Controle

“…Esses estudos utilizaram técnicas de ultrassom não-invasivas, como a dilatação mediada por fluxo (DMF), que mede o fluxo mediado da artéria braquial, e a espessura médio-intimal da carótida (IMT, do inglês intima-medial thickening) e relataram resultados conflitantes. [9][10][11][12] Para contribuir com essa discussão, nosso estudo tem como objetivo avaliar os fatores associados à melhora da função endotelial e espessura da carótida medida por DMF e IMT em indivíduos com HIV, com carga viral sob controle, que foram tratados com uma combinação de atorvastatina + aspirina por um período de 6 meses.…”