Eyal Leibovitz

Treatment with atorvastatin improves small artery compliance in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUNDnWe studied the effect of atorvastatin on arterial compliance in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia.nnnMETHODSnSeventeen patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels above 170 mg/dL, were included in the study, none of whomever received hypolipidemic medication or had other risk factors. Patients were followed for five visits, every 4 weeks.nnnRESULTSnAfter 20 weeks of treatment, lipid profile improved significantly. Large artery elasticity index did not change significantly, but small artery elasticity index increased by 21% (4.6+/-0.5 to 5.6+/-0.9, P < .01). Although none of our patients suffered from hypertension, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) decreased significantly (6 mm Hg and 3 mm Hg, respectively).nnnCONCLUSIONSnWe conclude that atorvastatin improves the elasticity of small arteries and reduces systolic and diastolic BP in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia.

Vascular Elasticity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Is Associated with Steroids and Hydroxychloroquine Treatment

Abstract:u2002 We studied the large and small artery elasticity (AE) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients according to treatment profile. Forty‐one SLE patients (90% female, mean age 48.7 ± 2.4 years) were compared to 96 healthy controls. The large and small AE and the SVR were derived from radial artery waveforms (model CR‐2000, HDI Inc.). Patients were categorized into groups according to treatment: steroid (12), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) (9), steroid+HCQ (16), and no‐steroids‐no‐HCQ (4). The steroid group had reduced large AE and increased SVR as compared to the HCQ group (8.3 mmHg·mL·10 and 18.4 dyne·sec·10−3 versus 13.7 and 14.4, respectively). Mean large AE and the SVR of the HCQ group was similar to that of the controls (11.8 mmHg·mL·10 and 14.5 dyne·sec·10−3, respectively). Mean large AE and SVR of the steroid+HCQ group were better than the steroid group (10.4 mmHg·mL·10 and 16.0 dyne·sec·10−3). Patients that received steroids had higher rates of hypertension (36%) and diabetes (11%) compared to rest of the patients (15% and 0%, respectively). Small AE, blood pressure, CRP, and SLEDAI were similar between the groups. Among SLE patients, steroid treatment was associated with the highest degree of vascular damage, and HCQ was associated with the lowest degree of vascular damage. It is possible that the steroids are responsible in part to the increased large‐vessel manifestations observed in these patients, and that HCQ might have a protective effect on the vessel wall.

Morbid obesity without CV risk factors is associated with normal arterial compliance with no improvement after weight loss. Morbidly obese patients with multiple risk factors have decreased arterial elasticity and improve after significant weight loss: evaluation of arterial elasticity, inflammatory markers and humoral factors before and after surgical intervention for morbid obesity (lap band)

Abstract OR-58 Key Words: Morbid Obesity, Arterial Compliance, Cardiovascular Risk Factors