Randomized trial of atorvastatin in improving endothelial function in diabetics without prior coronary disease and having average cholesterol level.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether HMGCoA reductase inhibitor with atorvastatin can modulate endothelial function in type II diabetics having average cholesterol and no prior cardiovascular disease.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Type II diabetics, with no prior cardiovascular events and total cholesterol at admission of < or = 200 mg/dl or LDL < or = 140 mg/dl, were randomized to placebo (n = 20) or atorvastatin 20 mg daily (n = 22) for 30 weeks. Brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilatation or flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and endothelium-independent dilatation or nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NTGMD) were measured at baseline and after thirty weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

Baseline clinical characteristics were similar at admission in both groups. After thirty weeks of treatment, the FMD did not significantly change in either the atorvastatin or placebo group (4.11 +/- 1.05% to 3.01 +/- 1.27% vs 5.75 +/- 1.93% to 6.45 +/- 1.41%, respectively; p = 0.46 by analysis of covariance). Similarly, the NTGM did not change in either group.

CONCLUSION

The addition of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor with atorvastatin did not improve endothelial function in type 2 diabetes having average cholesterol with no prior cardiovascular disease, despite an improvement of the lipid profile.