Abstract
To investigate the impact of lipid lowering therapy by different means on skin microvascular function in patients with dysglycaemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). Thirty-six patients were randomized to simvastatin 80 mg daily (S80, n = 19) or ezetimibe 10 mg and simvastatin 10 mg daily (E10/S10, n = 17) for 6 weeks. Skin microvascular function was assessed by laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) at rest, following arterial occlusion (peak postocclusive LDF) and following local heating on the forearm (heat arm LDF) and foot (heat foot LDF). LDF parameters and serum lipids were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. At follow-up, LDL cholesterol had decreased from 3.1 (2.7-3.5) to 1.6 (1.5-1.8) (mmol L(-1)) and 3.0 (2.4-3.9) to 1.3 (1.1-1.8) (mmol L(-1)) in the E10/S10 and S80 groups respectively. In the entire study group (n = 32), LDF parameters increased significantly; postocclusive LDF from 22 (17-27) to 26 (21-32) perfusion units (PU) (P < 0.001), heat foot LDF from 61 (44-82) to 66 (45-83) PU (P < 0.001) and heat arm LDF from 60 (48-121) to 75 (54-125) PU (P < 0.01). The changes in LDF parameters did not differ between the E10/S10 and S80 groups. Lipid lowering improves microvascular function in patients with dysglycaemia and CAD. The data suggest that lipid lowering per se is more important than pleiotropic effects of statins for this effect.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
