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Effect of atorvastatin and fenofibrate on autonomic tone in subjects with combined hyperlipidemia

Vojtech Melenovsky1, Dan Wichterle, Jan Simek

  • 13rd Department of Internal Medicine, 1st School of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. vmeleno2@jhu.edu

The American Journal of Cardiology
|July 31, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Middle-aged men with combined hyperlipidemia show abnormal autonomic cardiovascular control. Lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin and/or fenofibrate partially reversed these autonomic tone abnormalities.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function
  • Lipid Metabolism

Background:

  • Combined hyperlipidemia is prevalent in middle-aged men.
  • Autonomic cardiovascular control plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of autonomic tone is linked to cardiovascular disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate autonomic cardiovascular control in men with combined hyperlipidemia.
  • To determine the effects of short-term lipid-lowering therapy on autonomic function.
  • To assess the impact of atorvastatin and fenofibrate on sympathetic tone and baroreflex sensitivity.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized open-label trial design.
  • Comparison between subjects with combined hyperlipidemia and normolipidemic controls.
  • Assessment of autonomic tone and baroreflex sensitivity.
  • Evaluation of short-term treatment with atorvastatin and/or fenofibrate.

Main Results:

  • Untreated hyperlipidemic men exhibited increased sympathetic tone and reduced baroreflex sensitivity compared to controls.
  • Lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin demonstrated partial reversal of autonomic abnormalities.
  • Fenofibrate treatment also showed partial improvement in autonomic cardiovascular control.
  • Combined therapy effects were not explicitly detailed but implied partial reversibility.

Conclusions:

  • Combined hyperlipidemia is associated with significant autonomic cardiovascular dysregulation in middle-aged men.
  • Short-term treatment with atorvastatin and fenofibrate can partially restore autonomic balance.
  • These findings suggest a potential benefit of lipid-lowering therapy beyond lipid reduction for cardiovascular health.

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