Effect of pravastatin on endothelial function and endothelial progenitor cells in
healthy postmenopausal women.
Author(s): Paradisi G, Bracaglia M, Basile F, Di'Ipolito S, Di Nicuolo F, Ianniello F,
Quagliozzi L, Donati L, Labianca A, Di Cesare C, Viggiano M, Biaggi A, De Waure
C, Andreotti F, Di Simone N, Caruso A.
Affiliation(s): Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,
Rome, Italy. giancarlo.paradisi@tin.it
Publication date & source: 2012, Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. , 39(2):153-9
PURPOSE: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality
in postmenopausal women. Among statins, pravastatin has been shown to
significantly reduce fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in primary and
secondary prevention trials. The aim of the present research was to investigate
whether treatment with pravastatin can modify some indices of cardiovascular risk
in healthy postmenopausal women such as significant reductions in total and LDL
cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
METHODS: 20 patients were randomized in double-blind fashion to treatment for
eight weeks with either pravastatin 40 mg/day or placebo, and subsequently, after
one-week wash-out, crossed-over to the alternative treatment (placebo or
pravastatin) for the following eight weeks. We performed clinical and laboratory
investigations, before and at the end of each treatment period, to evaluate
patient response to the treatment with pravastatin.
RESULTS: After eight weeks pravastatin therapy reduced the median low density
lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (p < 0.01 in both cases). In contrast,
insulin level and insulin sensitivity did not show any difference with regard to
values observed after placebo treatment. The absolute number of endothelial
progenitor cells-colony forming unit (EPC-CFU) was significantly increased by
pravastatin treatment (30.6% increase, p < 0.05) and the number of senescent
cells was significantly decreased. However pravastatin did not increase tube-like
formation by EPC and did not improve endothelial function.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite beneficial effect on lipids and EPC, short term pravastatin
does not seem to improve other cardiovascular risk factors, at least in healthy
postmenopausal women.
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