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Effects of low and high doses of atorvastatin on arterial compliance

Yesari Karter1, Asli Curgunlu, Nurver Ertürk

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey.

Japanese Heart Journal
|January 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

High-dose atorvastatin significantly reduces LDL cholesterol but does not improve arterial compliance more than standard doses. This suggests aggressive dosing may not be necessary for patients with hyperlipidemia but no other atherosclerosis risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by reduced vascular distensibility, precedes morphological lesions in atherosclerosis.
  • Hyperlipidemia is a primary risk factor for atherosclerosis development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of standard (20 mg/day) versus high (80 mg/day) doses of atorvastatin on lipid profiles and arterial compliance in patients with hyperlipidemia.
  • To determine if higher atorvastatin doses offer superior improvements in arterial compliance.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind study involving 24 patients with LDL-C > 170 mg/dL and no other atherosclerosis risk factors.
  • Patients received either 20 mg/day or 80 mg/day of atorvastatin for three months.
  • Serum lipid fractions and arterial compliance (measured via distensibility and compliance coefficients using Doppler ultrasound) were assessed at baseline and post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • Both atorvastatin doses significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, and increased HDL-C.
  • The high-dose group showed significantly greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides compared to the standard-dose group.
  • Arterial distensibility and compliance coefficients increased significantly in both groups, with no significant difference between the standard and high-dose groups.

Conclusions:

  • Higher doses of atorvastatin are more effective in lowering blood lipid levels than standard doses.
  • Improvements in arterial compliance are not dose-dependent with atorvastatin.
  • For patients with hyperlipidemia but no other risk factors, aggressive dosing of atorvastatin may not be necessary for improving vascular function.

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