The effect of statins on angiotensin II-induced hemodynamic changes in young, mildly hypercholesterolemic men

Background Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors are well known to mediate angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced pro-atherosclerotic effects. It has been found that hypercholesterolemia influences the expression of AT1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle cells and that increased density of AT1 receptors exaggerates the hemodynamic response to Ang II. We analyzed to what extent statins and AT1 receptor antagonists diminish the vasoconstrictive response to Ang II infusion in hypercholesterolemic patients. Methods A total of 24 male patients with LDL cholesterol levels >130 mg/dL were enrolled in a randomized, cross-over study. After baseline evaluation, 12 patients received first cerivastatin (0.3 mg/day) and the other 12 patients initially received candesartan (8 mg/day) for 3 weeks, with subsequent cross-over of the medication for the second 3-week drug period. The vascular response was analyzed by the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) during infusion of increasing doses of Ang II at baseline and the end of each treatment period. Hemodynamic changes were also compared with those in 24 normocholesterolemic subjects without any therapy. Results At baseline, Ang II provoked a similar increase of MAP and TPR in patients and control subjects. Treatment with cerivastatin did not affect the response to Ang II compared with baseline. By contrast, treatment with candesartan attenuated significantly the response to Ang II compared with baseline and cerivastatin. Conclusions Our hemodynamic data indicate the hypothesis that statins do not reduce the responsiveness to Ang II in resistance arteries of young, mildly hypercholesterolemic patients.