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1.
Clustering of metabolic syndrome components attenuates coronary plaque regression during intensive statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome: the JAPAN-ACS subanalysis study.
Takashima, H, Ozaki, Y, Morimoto, T, Kimura, T, Hiro, T, Miyauchi, K, Nakagawa, Y, Yamagishi, M, Daida, H, Mizuno, T, et al
Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society. 2012;(12):2840-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND The JAPAN-ACS (Japan Assessment of Pitavastatin and Atorvastatin in Acute Coronary Syndrome) trial showed that intensive statin therapy could induce significant coronary plaque regression in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We evaluated the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components on coronary plaque regression in the JAPAN-ACS patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Serial intravascular ultrasound measurements over 8-12 months were performed in 242 ACS patients receiving pitavastatin or atorvastatin. Patients were divided into groups according to the presence of MetS or the number of MetS components. Although the percent change in plaque volume (%PV) was not significantly different between the MetS (n=119) and non-MetS (n=123) groups (P=0.50), it was significantly associated with an increasing number of MetS components (component 0: -24.0%, n=7; components 1: -20.8%, n=31; components 2: -16.1%, n=69; components 3: -18.7%, n=83; components 4: -13.5%, n=52; P=0.037 for trend). The percent change in body mass index (%BMI) significantly correlated with %PV (r=0.15, P=0.021), especially in the MetS components 4 group (r=0.35, P=0.017). In addition, %BMI was an independent predictor of plaque regression after adjustment for the changes of low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and HbA(1c). CONCLUSIONS The clustering of MetS components, but not the presence of MetS itself, could attenuate coronary plaque regression during intensive statin therapy in ACS patients. Therefore, to achieve a greater degree of plaque regression, it is necessary to treat to each MetS component and use lifestyle modification.
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2.
Association between the changes in renal function and serum uric acid levels during multifactorial intervention and clinical outcome in patients with metabolic syndrome. A post hoc analysis of the ATTEMPT study.
Athyros, VG, Karagiannis, A, Ganotakis, ES, Paletas, K, Nicolaou, V, Bacharoudis, G, Tziomalos, K, Alexandrides, T, Liberopoulos, EN, Mikhailidis, DP, et al
Current medical research and opinion. 2011;(8):1659-68
Abstract
AIM: To assess the effects of long-term multifactorial intervention on renal function and serum uric acid (SUA) levels and their association with estimated cardiovascular disease (eCVD) risk and actual CVD events. METHODS This prospective, randomized, target-driven study included 1123 subjects (45.6% men, age 45-65 years) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) but without diabetes or CVD. Patients were randomized to multifactorial treatment. Atorvastatin was titrated from 10-80 mg/day aiming at a low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <100 mg/dl (group A) or an LDL-C target of <130 mg/dl (group B). Changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and SUA levels were recorded in all patients and in the subgroup with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD; eGFR = 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m(2); n = 349). We used ANOVA to compare changes within the same group, unpaired Student t-test to compare results between groups at specific time points, and log-rank test to compare event free survival. RESULTS The eCVD-risk reduction was greater in group A. In the overall study population, eGFR increased by 3.5% (p < 0.001) and SUA levels fell by 5.6% (p < 0.001). In patients from group A with stage 3 CKD (group A1; n = 172), eGFR increased by 11.1% (p < 0.001) from baseline and by 7.5% (p < 0.001) in group B1 (n = 177; p < 0.001 vs. the change in group A1). The corresponding fall in SUA levels was 10.7% in group A1 (p < 0.001 vs. baseline) and 8.3% in group B1 (p < 0.001 vs. baseline and group A1). These changes were mainly attributed to atorvastatin treatment. Among the CKD stage 3 patients there were no CVD events in group A1, while 6 events occurred in group B1 (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS Multifactorial intervention in patients with MetS without established CVD improved renal function and reduced SUA levels. These changes were more prominent in stage 3 CKD patients and might have contributed to the reduction in eCVD risk and clinical events. Original study registration number [ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00416741].
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3.
Effect of atorvastatin on circulating hsCRP concentrations: a sub-study of the achieve cholesterol targets fast with atorvastatin stratified titration (ACTFAST) study.
Gensini, GF, Gori, AM, Dilaghi, B, Rostagno, C, Gaw, A, Blanco-Colio, LM, de Teresa, E, Egido, J, Farsang, C, Leiter, LA, et al
International journal of cardiology. 2010;(3):257-64
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is a risk factor for cardiovascular events that may add prognostic information. Statin treatment is associated with significant reductions in CRP concentrations, which appear to be unrelated to the magnitude of LDL-cholesterol reduction. We investigated the effect of atorvastatin, across its dose range, on high sensitivity (hs)CRP in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS ACTFAST was a 12 week, prospective, multicenter, open-label trial in which high-risk subjects were assigned a starting dose of atorvastatin (10, 20, 40 or 80 mg/d) based on LDL-C and status of statin use at screening (1345 statin-free [SF] and 772 previously statin-treated [ST]). RESULTS At baseline, ST subjects had significantly lower hsCRP levels than SF subjects (ST group 2.31, 95% CI 2.15, 2.48 mg/L vs. SF group 3.16, 95% CI 2.98, 3.34 mg/L, p<0.05). In the SF group, atorvastatin 10 to 80 mg significantly (p<0.01) reduced hsCRP levels in a dose dependent-manner. In ST group, additional hsCRP reductions were observed over the statin used at baseline, which were not dose-dependent. Atorvastatin significantly decreased hsCRP concentrations in subjects with or without diabetes or the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Atorvastatin treatment at different doses, particularly 80 mg, significantly reduced hsCRP serum concentrations. This reduction was observed in both SF and ST groups and was independent of the presence of metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes. The beneficial effect of atorvastatin was evident at 6 weeks, supporting the practice of early introduction of higher doses of atorvastatin in high-risk patients.
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Ezetimibe added to atorvastatin compared with doubling the atorvastatin dose in patients at high risk for coronary heart disease with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome or neither.
Conard, S, Bays, H, Leiter, LA, Bird, S, Lin, J, Hanson, ME, Shah, A, Tershakovec, AM
Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2010;(3):210-8
Abstract
AIM: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are both associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD). Thus, it is useful to know the relative efficacy of lipid-altering drugs in these patient populations. METHODS A double-blind, parallel group trial of adult patients with hypercholesterolaemia at high-CHD risk receiving atorvastatin 40 mg/day compared atorvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg (ezetimibe) vs. doubling atorvastatin to 80 mg. This post hoc analysis reports lipid efficacy results in patients grouped by diagnosis of T2DM, MetS without T2DM or neither. Per cent change from baseline at week 6 was assessed for LDL-C, total cholesterol, HDL-C , non-HDL-C , Apo A-I, Apo B and triglycerides. Safety was monitored through clinical and laboratory adverse events (AEs). RESULTS Compared with doubling atorvastatin, atorvastatin plus ezetimibe resulted in greater reductions in LDL-C, triglycerides, Apo B, non-HDL-C, total cholesterol and lipid ratios in the T2DM, MetS and neither groups. Treatment effects were of similar magnitude across patient groups with both treatments, except triglycerides, which were slightly greater in the T2DM and MetS groups vs. neither group. Changes in HDL-C , Apo A-I and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were comparable for both treatments in all three groups. Safety and tolerability profiles were generally similar between treatments and across patient groups, as were the incidence of liver and muscle AEs. CONCLUSIONS Compared with doubling atorvastatin to 80 mg, addition of ezetimibe to atorvastatin 40 mg produced greater improvements in multiple lipid parameters in high-CHD risk patients with T2DM, MetS or neither, consistent with the significantly greater changes observed in the full study cohort (clinical trial # NCT00276484).
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5.
Comparative study of low doses of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin on lipid and glycemic control in patients with metabolic syndrome and hypercholesterolemia.
Park, JS, Kim, YJ, Choi, JY, Kim, YN, Hong, TJ, Kim, DS, Kim, KY, Jeong, MH, Chae, JK, Oh, SK, et al
The Korean journal of internal medicine. 2010;(1):27-35
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This multicenter, open-labeled, randomized trial was performed to compare the effects of rosuvastatin 10 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg on lipid and glycemic control in Korean patients with nondiabetic metabolic syndrome. METHODS In total, 351 patients who met the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria for metabolic syndrome with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels > or = 130 mg/dL were randomized to receive either rosuvastatin 10 mg (n = 173) or atorvastatin 10 mg (n = 178) for over 6 weeks. RESULTS After 6 weeks of treatment, greater reductions in total cholesterol (- 35.94 +/- 11.38 vs. - 30.07 +/- 10.46%, p < 0.001), LDL-C (48.04 +/- 14.45 vs. 39.52 +/- 14.42%, p < 0.001), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (- 42.93 +/- 13.15 vs. - 35.52 +/- 11.76%, p < 0.001), and apolipoprotein-B (- 38.7 +/- 18.85 vs. - 32.57 +/- 17.56%, p = 0.002) levels were observed in the rosuvastatin group as compared to the atorvastatin group. Overall, the percentage of patients attaining the NCEP ATP III goal was higher with rosuvastatin as compared to atorvastatin (87.64 vs. 69.88%, p < 0.001). Changes in glucose and insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index were not significantly different between the two groups. The safety and tolerability of the two agents were similar. CONCLUSIONS Rosuvastatin 10 mg was more effective than atorvastatin 10 mg in achieving NCEP ATP III LDL-C goals in patients with nondiabetic metabolic syndrome, especially in those with lower NCEP ATP III target level goals.
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Atorvastatin decreases elevated soluble CD40L in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. Atorvastatin on inflammatory markers study: a substudy of ACTFAST.
Blanco-Colio, LM, Martín-Ventura, JL, de Teresa, E, Farsang, C, Gaw, A, Gensini, G, Leiter, LA, Langer, A, Martineau, P, Egido, J, et al
Kidney international. Supplement. 2008;(111):S60-3
Abstract
The CD40/CD40 ligand plays a role in the inflammatory and prothrombotic processes in atherosclerosis. We analyzed whether short-term treatment with atorvastatin affects soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) plasma levels in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. sCD40L plasma concentrations were measured in 852 subjects from the Atorvastatin on Inflammatory Markers (AIM) Study, a 12-week prospective multicenter, open-label trial which enrolled statin-free subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD), CHD-equivalent (diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or cerebrovascular disease), or a 10-year CHD risk >20%. Subjects were assigned to atorvastatin (10-80 mg/day) based on LDL-C at screening. Overall, sCD40L levels were not different in patients at high cardiovascular risk compared with healthy subjects. When sCD40L levels were divided in quartiles, patients in the highest quartile (N=213) had higher sCD40L concentrations than age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (N=29) (P<0.0001). Interestingly, all doses of atorvastatin significantly diminished sCD40L levels in subjects at the highest quartile. Furthermore, atorvastatin treatment decreased sCD40L more markedly in subjects with metabolic syndrome compared with those without metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, atorvastatin diminishes sCD40L plasma levels, more markedly so in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Our results indicate that short-term treatment with atorvastatin exhibits anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.
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7.
Multicenter collaborative randomized parallel group comparative study of pitavastatin and atorvastatin in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients: collaborative study on hypercholesterolemia drug intervention and their benefits for atherosclerosis prevention (CHIBA study).
Yokote, K, Bujo, H, Hanaoka, H, Shinomiya, M, Mikami, K, Miyashita, Y, Nishikawa, T, Kodama, T, Tada, N, Saito, Y
Atherosclerosis. 2008;(2):345-52
Abstract
AIMS: To compare the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin and atorvastatin in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS AND RESULTS Japanese patients with total cholesterol (TC) > or = 220 mg/dL were randomized to receive pitavastatin 2 mg (n=126) or atorvastatin 10 mg (n=125) for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was percent change from baseline in non-HDL-C level after 12 weeks of treatment. Reduction of non-HDL-C by pitavastatin treatment (39.0%, P=0.456 vs. atorvastatin) was non-inferior to that by atorvastatin (40.3%). Both pitavastatin and atorvastatin also significantly reduced LDL-C by 42.6% and 44.1%, TC by 29.7% and 31.1%, and TG by 17.3% and 10.7%, respectively, at 12 weeks without intergroup differences. HDL-C showed a significant increase at 12 weeks with pitavastatin treatment (3.2%, P=0.033 vs. baseline) but not with atorvastatin treatment (1.7%, P=0.221 vs. baseline). Waist circumference, body weight and BMI were significantly correlated with percent reduction of non-HDL-C in the atorvastatin group, whereas pitavastatin showed consistent reduction of non-HDL-C regardless of the body size. In patients with metabolic syndrome, LDL-C was reduced significantly more in patients receiving pitavastatin when compared with those receiving atorvastatin. AST, ALT and gammaGTP increased significantly in patients receiving atorvastatin but not in those receiving pitavastatin. Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION Pitavastatin 2 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg are equally effective in improving the lipid profile and were well tolerated in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia.
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Adiponectin plasma levels are increased by atorvastatin treatment in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.
Blanco-Colio, LM, Martín-Ventura, JL, Gómez-Guerrero, C, Masramon, X, de Teresa, E, Farsang, C, Gaw, A, Gensini, G, Leiter, LA, Langer, A, et al
European journal of pharmacology. 2008;(1-3):259-65
Abstract
Adiponectin can suppress atherogenesis by inhibiting the adherence of monocytes, reducing their phagocytic activity, and suppressing the accumulation of modified lipoproteins in the vascular wall. Contradictory data have been reported about the effect of statins on adiponectin plasma levels. In this work, adiponectin plasma levels were measured in 102 statin-free subjects from the Spanish population of the Achieve Cholesterol Targets Fast with Atorvastatin Stratified Titration (ACTFAST) study, a 12-week, prospective, multi-centre, open-label trial which enrolled subjects with coronary heart disease, coronary heart disease-equivalent or a 10-year coronary heart disease risk >20%. Subjects were assigned to atorvastatin (10-80 mg/day) based on low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentration at screening. For comparison, age and gender-matched blood donors (N=40) were used as controls. Control subjects did not present hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and history of cardiovascular diseases. Adiponectin levels were diminished in patients at high cardiovascular risk compared with control subjects [4166 (3661-4740) vs 5806 (4764-7075) ng/ml respectively; geometric mean (95% CI); P<0.0001]. In the whole population, atorvastatin treatment increased adiponectin levels [9.7 (3.2-16.7);% Change (95% CI); P=0.003]. This increment was in a dose-dependent manner; maximal effect observed with atorvastatin 80 mg/d [24.7 (5.7-47.1); P=0.01]. Adiponectin concentrations were positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol both before and after atorvastatin treatment. No association was observed between adiponectin and LDL-cholesterol before and after atorvastatin treatment. In conclusion, atorvastatin increased adiponectin plasma levels in subjects at high cardiovascular risk, revealing a novel anti-inflammatory effect of this drug.
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A comparative study with rosuvastatin in subjects with metabolic syndrome: results of the COMETS study.
Stalenhoef, AF, Ballantyne, CM, Sarti, C, Murin, J, Tonstad, S, Rose, H, Wilpshaar, W
European heart journal. 2005;(24):2664-72
Abstract
AIMS: The efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, and placebo were compared in patients with the metabolic syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with the metabolic syndrome with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) > or =3.36 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) and multiple risk factors conferring a 10-year coronary heart disease risk score of >10% were randomized (2:2:1) to receive rosuvastatin 10 mg, atorvastatin 10 mg, or placebo for 6 weeks. Subsequently, the rosuvastatin 10 mg and placebo groups received rosuvastatin 20 mg and the atorvastatin 10 mg group received atorvastatin 20 mg for 6 weeks. LDL-C was reduced significantly more in patients receiving rosuvastatin 10 mg when compared with those receiving atorvastatin 10 mg at 6 weeks [intention-to-treat (ITT) population by randomized treatment: 41.7 vs. 35.7%, P < 0.001; ITT population by as-allocated treatment: 42.7 vs. 36.6%, P < 0.001]. Significant LDL-C reductions were also observed in patients receiving rosuvastatin when compared with those receiving atorvastatin at 12 weeks (48.9 vs. 42.5%, P < 0.001). More patients achieved LDL-C goals with rosuvastatin when compared with atorvastatin. Rosuvastatin increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly more than atorvastatin. Treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION At equivalent doses, rosuvastatin had a significantly greater effect than atorvastatin in lowering LDL-C and improving the lipid profile and was well tolerated in patients with the metabolic syndrome.
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10.
Relation of characteristics of metabolic syndrome to short-term prognosis and effects of intensive statin therapy after acute coronary syndrome: an analysis of the Myocardial Ischemia Reduction with Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering (MIRACL) trial.
Schwartz, GG, Olsson, AG, Szarek, M, Sasiela, WJ
Diabetes care. 2005;(10):2508-13
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We examined relations between characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, early cardiovascular risk, and effect of early, intensive statin therapy after acute coronary syndrome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 3,038 patients in the Myocardial Ischemia Reduction with Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering (MIRACL) trial were characterized by the presence or absence of a history of diabetes, a history of hypertension and/or blood pressure > or = 130/> or = 85, BMI >30 kg/m2, HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dl (men) or <50 mg/dl (women), and triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dl. Patients with three or more of these characteristics were categorized as having metabolic syndrome. RESULTS A total of 38% of patients (n = 1,161) met criteria for metabolic syndrome as defined in this study and had a 19% incidence of a primary end point event (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, or recurrent unstable myocardial ischemia) during the 16-week trial. Patients with two or fewer characteristics (n = 1,877) were classified as not having metabolic syndrome and had a 14% incidence of a primary end point event. In univariate analysis, the individual characteristics that bore a significant relation to risk were diabetes and low HDL cholesterol. In a multivariable model including age, sex, and randomized treatment assignment, presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.49 (95% CI 1.24-1.79, P < 0.0001). Relative risk reduction with 80 mg atorvastatin daily compared with placebo was similar in patients with and without metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic syndrome, as defined in the context of this clinical trial, is a strong predictor of early recurrent ischemic events after acute coronary syndrome.