Author/Editor		Prokšelj, Katja
Title		Vpliv statinov na učinke L-arginina na endotelno vazomotorno funkcijo pri bolnikih s hiperholesterolemijo
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 45
Language		slo
Abstract		BACKGROUND. Patients with hypercholesterolemia have impaired endothelial function. In endothelial cell nitric oxide is formed from L-arginine and it mediates arterial dilation. L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The treatment with statins improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation, however it is not known how the treatment affects L-arginin effects. METHODS. 20 patients with coronary artery disease and untreated hypercholesterolemia have received 20 mg of simvastatin per day for 8 weeks. Clinical examination and blood sample analyses were performed at the beginning of the study and after the 8-week treatment. Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, tryglicerides, apolipoprotein B, AI and C-reactive protein levels were evaluated. Endothelium-dependent flow mediated and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation of the brachial artery were determined with ultrasound. Measurements were obtained at basal conditions and after L-arginine infusion. RESULTS. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (27% and 36%, p<0.0001) and C-reactive protein levels (79%, p<0.001) were significantly reduced after the 8-week treatment with simvastatin. Apolipoprotein B levels had also been reduced, whereas HDL cholesterol, tryglicerides and apolipoprotein AI levels were not affected by statin therapy. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation increased from 4.7% +- 1.6% to 8.5% +- 2.9% (p<0.0001). AT the begining of the study L-arginine supplementation resulted in 130% increase (p<0.0001) of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, whereas the effect of L-arginine supplementation was absent after simvastatin therapy. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		CORONARY DISEASE HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA BRACHIAL ARTERY VASODILATION ANTILIPEMIC AGENTS ENDOTHELIUM, VASCULAR CHOLESTEROL TRIGLYCERIDES LIPOPROTEINS, HDL CHOLESTEROL LIPOPROTEINS, LDL CHOLESTEROL APOLIPOPROTEINS A APOLIPOPROTEINS B C-REACTIVE PROTEIN NITROGLYCERIN ARGININE