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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Effects of atorvastatin on arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease: a randomised controlled trial

Robert G Fassett1, Iain K Robertson, Madeleine J Ball

  • 1Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. rfassett@mac.com

Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
|December 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Atorvastatin therapy may slow the progression of arterial stiffness in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study found that aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) increased in placebo patients but not in those treated with atorvastatin over three years.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Arterial stiffness, including augmentation index (AIx) and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), is a predictor of adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 2-4.
  • Statin therapy is known to have vascular benefits, but its long-term impact on arterial stiffness and central blood pressure in CKD patients remains under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term effects of atorvastatin on arterial stiffness and central blood pressure in patients diagnosed with CKD.
  • To determine if atorvastatin can mitigate the progression of arterial stiffness in this vulnerable patient group.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind trial involving 37 CKD patients (serum creatinine > 1.36 mg/dL) was conducted.
  • Participants received either 10 mg of atorvastatin daily or a placebo for three years.
  • Aortic PWV, AIx, and central/brachial blood pressures were measured every nine months.

Main Results:

  • While aortic PWV significantly increased in the placebo group over three years, it did not show a significant increase in the atorvastatin group (p=0.05 vs. p=0.10).
  • This indicates a potential 41% slowing in the rate of arterial stiffness increase with atorvastatin, though not statistically significant (p=0.48).
  • No significant between-group differences were observed in the changes of AIx or central pulse pressure over the study period.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial stiffness, as measured by aortic PWV, significantly worsened in CKD patients receiving a placebo over time.
  • Atorvastatin treatment appeared to prevent the significant increase in aortic PWV observed in the placebo group, suggesting a protective effect on arterial stiffness.
Abstract

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