Article Text
Abstract
Objective Hence, our aims were to elucidate the changes of the carotid arterial structure and functions in patients with the HC. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of pitavastatin calcium on artherosclerosis of carotid artery in patients with hypercholesteremia (HC).
Methods A total of 40 patients with HC were administered pitavastatin calcium 1 mg or 2 mg daily for 8 weeks and thirty healthy subjects were chosen as controls. Carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography (5-MHz linear array transducer; Sequia 512, Siemens). The right and left common carotid arteries (CCA) were assessed in the antero-oblique direction. For each study the following parameters were assessed and calculated using the following formulae, respectively: (1) IMT, (2): Vs, Vd, Vm, (3):Ep [Pressure-strain elastic modulus, Ep={(SBP-DBP)/(Dd-Ds)×Dd}, Ep* Ep*=Ep/DBP (4)β:{β=In (SBP/DBP)/[(Dd-Ds)/Dd]}, (5):AC [Arterial compliance, AC=π (Ds×Ds-Dd×Dd)/4×(SBP-DBP)], (6)RI:[RI=(Vs-Vd)/Vs], (7)PI:[PI=(Vs-Vd)/Vm], (8)plaque index.
RESULTS (1) As compared with healthy control group, IMT, β in the HC group was significantly higher (p<0.001), while Vs, RI, AC in the HC group was markedly lower (p<0.01). (2) In HC patients, β level was significantly reduced (p<0.001), and, RI, AC were improved significantly (p<0.05, p<0.001 respectively) 8 weeks after treatment as compared with those before treatment, however, no significant difference was noted in IMT.
Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that (1) Significant alterations to carotid arteries structure and functions were found in the HC patients, including thickened IMT, distended vessel diameter, reduced elasticity and augmented stiffness. (2) Carotid arterial functions were markedly ameliorated after treatment with pitavastatin calcium for 8 weeks.