Evaluation of Combination of Low Dose Atorvastatin plus Ezetimibe and Aspirin in the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combination of low dose of atorvastatin plus ezetimibe and aspirin in the treatment of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease (AVD) with special emphasis on rhabdomyolysis. Experimental Design: Thirty male rats were allocated to five groups as normal control, disease control, and test groups I, II, III. All groups except normal control group received high fat diet for 10 weeks and treatment was initiated in test groups after the completion of 4th week, after rise in lipid levels and bodyweight of the rats when compared with normal control rats was noted. Normal control and disease control group animals received vehicle and test groups were treated with ezetimibe, 0.986mg/kg (Clinical dose 10 mg) and aspirin, 7.708mg/kg (Clinical dose 75 mg) along with differential doses of atorvastatin per orally. Test groups I, II, III received atorvastatin dose of 1.027mg/kg, 0.770mg/kg, 0.513mg/kg p.o. respectively which were equal to clinical doses of 10mg, 7.5mg and 5 mg of atorvastatin respectively. Body weight, lipid profile and grip strength were evaluated biweekly and histopathology of aorta was carried out at the end of the study. Results: The results of study reveal that test group II had significantly decreased the increased body weight, lipid levels, accumulation of lipids on the walls of aorta and incidence of rhabdomyolysis. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that atorvastatin at clinical dose of 7.5 mg have shown a decrease in the incidence rhabdomyolysis without loss of hypolipidemic activity when given along with clinical doses of ezetimibe and aspirin in the management of AVD. Key words: Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease, Atorvastatin, High Fat Diet Model, Rhabdomyolysis, Statins.