1. Long-term LDL-c lowering in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia normalizes carotid intima-media thickness
- Author
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Sivapalaratnam, S., van Loendersloot, L.L., Hutten, B.A., Kastelein, J.J.P., Trip, M.D., and de Groot, E.
- Subjects
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HYPERCHOLESTEREMIA treatment , *LOW density lipoproteins , *FAMILIAL diseases , *CAROTID artery , *ATHEROSCLEROSIS treatment , *STATINS (Cardiovascular agents) , *DRUG efficacy , *MEDICAL statistics - Abstract
Abstract: Objective: We investigated the effectiveness of statins in daily practice in reducing the arterial wall thicknesses by comparing the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) between statin-treated familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients and their unaffected spouses. Methods: FH subjects treated with LDL-c lowering medication for at least 5 years and their unaffected spouses were included in this observational study. Clinical data and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) as surrogate marker for atherosclerosis were acquired. Results: In total 40 FH patients, age 48.4±4.2 years, and their 40 unaffected spouses, age 47.4±3.9 years, were included. Pre-treatment total cholesterol levels of FH patients were on average 9.3±2.0mmol/L. Treated FH patients and unaffected spouses exhibited similar LDL-c (3.8±1.5 vs. 3.5±1.1mmol/L; p =0.25) and total cholesterol levels (5.8±1.6 vs. 5.6±1.1mmol/L; p =0.56). Also, in a multivariate model cIMT adjusted for age and sex did not differ between affecteds and spouses (95% CI: −0.032 to 0.092mm; p =0.34). Conclusion: Long-term statin treatment normalizes cIMT in severe FH patients and therefore it is likely that the extreme risk of cardiovascular disease in FH patients is significantly reduced by this therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
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