Different Effects of Atorvastatin on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Women With and Without Hyperprolactinemia.

Long-term prolactin excess is often accompanied by numerous metabolic complications. No previous study has compared the effect of statin therapy on circulating levels of cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with elevated and normal prolactin levels. The study population consisted of 3 age-, weight-, and lipid-matched groups of young women: 19 women with untreated hyperprolactinemia (group A), 20 normoprolactinemic women receiving bromocriptine treatment (because of previous hyperprolactinemia) (group B), and 20 untreated women with prolactin levels within the reference range (group C). Because of elevated total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, all women were then treated with atorvastatin (40 mg daily). Apart from measuring plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, and hormone levels at the beginning of the study and 12 weeks later, we measured circulating levels of uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and fibrinogen. Despite similar baseline levels of plasma lipids, levels of uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and fibrinogen as well as the degree of insulin resistance were higher in group A than in the remaining 2 groups. Atorvastatin reduced total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in all study groups. However, only in normoprolactinemic women (groups B and C) did atorvastatin reduce circulating levels of nonlipid cardiometabolic risk factors, whereas only in group A did the drug slightly impair insulin sensitivity. The results of the study suggest that cardiometabolic effects of atorvastatin depend on the prolactin status of patients.