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Published on: November 10, 2017

Increased circulatory RAS activity can be inhibited by statins in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Huang Long1, Ling Wang1, Hai Su2

  • 1Department of Cardiology Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Jiujiang University, China.

Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System : JRAAS
|March 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Statin treatment in hypercholesterolemic patients significantly reduces circulatory renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity. This decrease in RAS activity correlates with lower total cholesterol and LDL-C levels.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hypercholesterolemia (HC) is linked to increased circulatory renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity.
  • Elevated RAS activity contributes to cardiovascular risk.
  • Statins are primary treatments for hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of statin therapy on circulatory RAS activity in hypercholesterolemic patients.
  • To assess the relationship between lipid levels and RAS markers during statin treatment.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 18 hypercholesterolemic (HC) patients and 18 healthy controls.
  • Measurements included total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and angiotensin II (Ang II) levels.
  • HC patients were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks after initiating statin treatment.

Main Results:

  • Baseline HC patients exhibited higher TC, LDL-C, ACE activity, and Ang II levels compared to controls.
  • Significant positive correlations were observed between ACE activity/Ang II levels and TC/LDL-C.
  • Statin treatment led to significant reductions in TC, LDL-C, ACE activity, and Ang II levels in HC patients after 8 weeks.

Conclusions:

  • Lowering serum cholesterol with statins in HC patients is associated with reduced circulatory RAS activity.
  • These findings suggest a link between lipid-lowering effects of statins and modulation of the RAS.
  • RAS activity remains positively correlated with TC and LDL-C levels throughout statin treatment.
Abstract

Keywords:
Hypercholesterolemiaangiotensin IIangiotensin-converting enzymebloodstatins

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