ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Statins improve arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypertension is a predominant contributor of arterial stiffening. However, the influence of hypertension on the effect of statins for improving arterial stiffness in CAD patients has seldom been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationships between statin use and arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) was measured in 437 patients, including 220 hypertensive CAD patients (121 used statins, 99 did not) and 217 normotensive CAD patients (105 used statins, 112 did not). The normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients were matched according to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients, lipid profiles were significantly improved in the statin group compared with the non-statin group. No significant differences in the administered statins (i.e., atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin) and statin therapy duration were found between normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). No significant correlation of ba-PWV and statin therapy duration was found in all CAD patients, normotensive CAD patients, or hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). ba-PWV in the statin group was significantly lower than that in the non-statin group in normotensive CAD patients ((1331.68 ± 167.52) cm/s vs. (1468.61 ± 244.54) cm/s, P = 0.002) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, statin therapy was significantly associated with ba-PWV after adjusting for confounding variables in normotensive CAD patients (P = 0.018) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Statins may significantly improve arterial stiffness in CAD patients, and hypertension may probably influence the effectiveness of statin therapy in improving arterial stiffness in this population. Further studies are required to investigate the effect of statins on arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ankle Brachial Index , Coronary Artery Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors , Pharmacology , Hypertension , Pulse Wave Analysis , Vascular Stiffness , PhysiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with arotinolol in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three patients with IDCM were evaluated at baseline and after 12-month therapy with arotinolol. The conventional therapy for congestive heart failure was continued throughout the study with arotinolol as the only beta-blocker. Left ventricular function was assessed with the New York Heart Association functional class and two-dimensional echocardiography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12-month arotinolol treatment, there was a significant improvement in left ventricular systolic function. Left ventricular end-systolic dimension significantly decreased from 59.52 +/- 8.83 mm to 50.89 +/- 8.17 mm (P < 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased from 27.39% +/- 7.94% to 41.13% +/- 9.45% ( P < 0.001). Left ventricular mass index decreased from 150.47 +/- 42.42 g/m2 to 141.58 +/- 34.36 g/m2 (P < 0.01). No adverse events leading to premature discontinuation of study drug occurred.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In this preliminary study, 12-month arotinolol treatment has a favorable effect on left ventricular function in patients with IDCM, and it is safe and well tolerated.</p>