Effect of atorvastatin on lipid parameters, LDL subtype distribution, hemorrheological parameters and adhesion molecule concentrations in patients with hypertriglyceridemia

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 87 - 92
• Main Authors: Empen, K., Geiss, H.-C., Lehrke, M., Otto, C., Schwandt, P., Parhofer, K.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Anticholesteremic Agents - pharmacology; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Atorvastatin Calcium; Blood Viscosity - drug effects; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - classification; E-selectin; Female; Hemorheology - drug effects; Heptanoic Acids - pharmacology; Heptanoic Acids - therapeutic use; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia - blood; Hypertriglyceridemia - drug therapy; ICAM-1; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - classification; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrroles - pharmacology; Pyrroles - therapeutic use; Triglycerides - blood; VCAM-1; viscosity; E-selectin; VCAM-1; viscosity; ICAM-1
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/S0939-4753(03)80023-6

Hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for atherosclerosis that is typically associated with high concentrations of adhesion molecules, impaired hemorrheology and an unfavourable low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subtype distribution. We hypothesised that some of these risk markers might be beneficially influenced by lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin in hypertriglyceridemic patients. Nineteen patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia were given 10 mg of atorvastatin per day for four weeks. Their cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, LDL subtype profile, hemorrheological parameters and E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 concentrations were measured before and at the end of atorvastatin therapy. The levels of total and LDL cholesterol respectively decreased by 25% and 24% (both p<0.001). Furthermore, cholesterol was reduced by 8–29% in all seven LDL subfractions (density range: 1.020–1.066 g/mL) ( p<0.05). The reduction in triglyceride concentrations was of marginal significance (9%, p=0.1), but its degree positively correlated with the reduction of small-dense LDL (r=0.5, p<0.025). Plasma viscosity and blood viscosity at low shear rates were respectively reduced by 2% and 16% (both p<0.05). The effect of the treatment on the concentrations of HDL-C, fibrinogen and adhesion molecules was not significant. Atorvastatin (10 mg/day) not only reduced the plasma concentrations of atherogenic lipoproteins but also improved the LDL-subtype profile and reduced plasma and blood viscosity in patients with hypertriglyceridemia; however, it failed to significantly lower triglyceride concentrations.