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eComment: Statins and ACE-inhibitors

University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb 1000, Croatia

The use of statins and fate of small abdominal aortic aneurysms

In the present study the authors demonstrated the benefit of using statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with few limitations (lack of dosages, types of statin, start point of statin treatment etc.) [1].

Lately, a trend towards fewer interventions for small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has been noticeable in our hospital. If risk factor reduction and in particular statin therapy is in fact having an effect on the rates of AAA, this may influence interpretation of trials that do not include contemporary controls with optimum medication. For that reason we have looked at the trends in AAA and prescribing of the statin lipid lowering class of medication in our country over the past 10 years to further evaluate the situation. Data on statin usage were obtained from the Croatian Ministry of Health and Welfare between 1994 and 2004. These data included all prescriptions subsidized through Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS). Data provided came in the form of total numbers of prescriptions dispensed according to PBS or RPBS for each item number corresponding to atorvatstatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin. Total numbers of statin prescriptions dispensed were obtained for each calendar year, and subsequently divided by 12 to obtain a monthly estimate. As each statin prescription dispensed in our country contains a 14-day supply of medication, this calculation was assumed to approximate the number of persons taking statin drugs in any given year. Our results show that the exponential-like rise in the prescribing of statin medications over the last decade is remarkable. According to our field evaluation results, the main reason for such a rise is the fact that the doctors accept that the primary mechanism of action of the statin group drugs is a lowering of serum cholesterol through the inhibition of the hepatic enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. Another concern is that experimental studies have shown that cholesterol lowering with statin therapy may slow the progression [2], and induce regression of atherosclerotic plaques involving peripheral arteries [3].

Our investigation shows another important factor. Another class of cardiovascular drugs, the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has also been shown to reduce proliferation of vascular smooth muscle and to decrease angiotensin-II mediated atherosclerosis, plaque rupture and vascular occlusion [4], independent of their blood pressure lowering effects. The ACE inhibitors are also subsidized under the PBS and RPBS and have experienced significant growth in prescribing rates in recent years. It is possible that the widespread use of this class of medications may also have contributed to the postulated effect of statin medications on the incidence of increasing the AAA. The impact of risk factor lowering medication, such as the statins, on asymptomatic AAA patients may alter the need for open surgical repair (OSR) or endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for AAA.

Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn yet, I am hoping that our data could have some benefit for future studies. Future studies clearly require contemporary controls ‘best medical management’ takes into account the prescribing of statins as well as other risks lowering medications in AAA patients

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1. Mosorin M, Niemela E, Heikkinen J, Lahtinen J, Tiozzo V, Satta J, Juvonen T, Biancari F. The use of statins and fate of small abdominal aortic aneurysms. Interact CardioVasc Thorac Surg 2008;7:578–581.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. Byington RP, Furberg CD, Crouse JR, Espeland MA, Bond MG. Pravastatin, Lipids, and Atherosclerosis in the Carotid Arteries (PLAC-II). Am J Cardiol 1995;76:54C–59C.[CrossRef][Medline]
3. Corti R, Fuster V, Fayad ZA, Worthley SG, Helft G, Smith D, Weinberger J, Wentzel J, Mizsei G, Mercuri M, Badimon JJ. Lipid lowering by simvastatin induces regression of human atherosclerotic lesions: two years follow-up by high-resolution non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging. Circulation 2002;106:2884–2887.
4. Schieffer B, Schieffer E, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Hilfeker A, Kovanen PT, Kaartinen M, Nussberger J, Harringer W, Drexler H. Expression of angiotensin II and interleukin 6 in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques: potential implications for inflammation and plaque instability. Circulation 2000;101:1372–1378.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Narcis Hudorovic Permission Requests Google Scholar Articles by Hudorovic, N. PubMed Articles by Hudorovic, N. Related Collections Related Article