Fluvastatin improves arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipidemia: a 5-year follow-up study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that fluvastatin might improve arterial stiffness, as assessed with pulse wave velocity (PWV), in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and hyperlipidemia over the long term.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Ninety-three patients were randomly assigned to either fluvastatin (group A, n=50) or bezafibrate (group B, n=43) and followed for 5 years. There was no difference in the clinical findings between the 2 groups. In group A, there was a progressive reduction in the brachial-ankle PWV along with a decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and C-reactive protein (CRP) by 12 months after fluvastatin, and the improvement was maintained until 5 years after treatment. In group B, despite identical lowering of the serum lipid, PWV was progressively increased. In group A, the percentage change in PWV correlated significantly with that of the serum CRP (r=0.49, p<0.001), but not with that of the serum LDL-C after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

The beneficial vascular effects of fluvastatin persisted for a long period in patients with CAD and hyperlipidemia. Its anti-inflammatory action might contribute to the favorable effects on arterial stiffness.

• Authors: Minoru Hongo, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Eiichiro Mawatari, Hiroya Hidaka, Setsuo Kumazaki, Yoshikazu Yazaki, Masafumi Takahashi, Osamu Kinoshita, Uichi Ikeda
• Journal: Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society (Circ J) Vol. 72 Issue 5 Pg. 722-8 (May 2008) ISSN: 1346-9843 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 18441450 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Indoles
• Fluvastatin
• Bezafibrate

Topics

• Aged
• Aorta (physiology)
• Bezafibrate (administration & dosage)
• Blood Flow Velocity (drug effects)
• Coronary Artery Disease (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Fluvastatin
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Hyperlipidemias (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Hypolipidemic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Indoles (administration & dosage)
• Linear Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Prospective Studies
• Pulsatile Flow (drug effects)
• Risk Factors
• Treatment Outcome