Improvement of Arterial Stiffness by Reducing Oxidative Stress Damage in Elderly Hypertensive Patients After 6Months of Atorvastatin Therapy

摘要

Atorvastatin is postulated to improve arterial stiffness in patients with diabetes mellitus or hypercholesterolemia; however, in elderly hypertensive patients, its effect on arterial stiffness and the possible mechanisms are unknown. A total of 73 elderly hypertensive patients were enrolled to receive atorvastatin for 6months. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and circulating biomarkers were measured before and after the intervention. After 6 months of treatment, the patients experienced a 19.66% reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.90±0.58 vs 2.33±0.56mmol/L, P<.01) and a 10.63% reduction in baPWV (2100.89±513.21 vs 1877.56±432.06cm/s, P=.01). In addition, a 21.79% reduction in circulating N-(epsilon)-carboxymethyl-lysine and a 20% reduction in Von Willebrand factor level were observed after treatment. Meanwhile, the activity of copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) was increased by 26.64% (5.04±1.01 vs 6.87±1.83 U/L, P<.001). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the increase of Cu/Zn SOD activity was related to the reductions of arterial stiffness (r=-0.340, P=.003). Taken together, these findings suggest that atorvastatin can improve arterial stiffness possibly by reducing oxidative stress levels in elderly hypertensive patients.