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[The effects of plasma cholesterol reduction on vasoconstriction due to sympathetic activation in patients with
Insights
Lowering high cholesterol with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors significantly improves vascular responsiveness to cold pressure tests in hypercholesterolemia patients. This reduction in vascular resistance correlates with decreased total cholesterol levels.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Vascular Biology
Abstract:
Recent studies have demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia is one of the major factor involved in the progression of coronary heart disease and that the reduction in plasma cholesterol reduces mortality for cardiovascular events. Indeed, recent experimental studies have demonstrated alterations in vascular reactivity in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia the consequences of an effective of chronic treatment with inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase on vascular responsiveness to cold pressure test. We observed a significant reduction in total plasma cholesterol during the study that was accompanied by a significant decrease in the response of peripheral vascular resistances to cold pressure test (55 +/- 4% vs 73 +/- 5% p < 0.01). There was also a significant relationship between the reduction of total cholesterol and the response of vascular resistance to the cold pressure test (r = 0.853, p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that the reduction in total plasma cholesterol may influence the haemodynamic response induced by the activation of the sympathetic system.