Abstract:

Objective To compare the effects of higher dosage of atorvastatin alone and combination of lower dosage of atorvastatin with ezetimibe on levels of lipid and metalloproteinases in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods Forty-two patients with coronary artery stenosis (50% to 70% stenosis) without stent replacement were selected, and were randomly divided into atorvastatin group (treated with 20 mg or 40 mg atorvastatin alone, n=19) and combined-therapy group (treated with 5 mg,10 mg atorvastatin and 10 mg ezetimibe, n=23). The levels of serum lipid, hepatic and renal functions, creatine kinase, metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) were detected 12 weeks after treatment. Results Twelve weeks after treatment, the level of LDL-C in atorvastain group was (1.94±0.49) mmol/L (37.82% decrease from baseline), and that in combined-therapy group was (1.92±0.54) mmol/L (38.26% decrease from baseline), and there was no significant difference between these two groups (P>0.05). Twelve weeks after treatment, the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly decreased and that of TIMP-1 was significantly increased compared with baseline levels in atorvastatin, while no such changes were detected in combined-therapy group. Conclusion In patients with coronary artery stenosis, combined therapy with lower dosage of atorvastatin and ezetimibe may lead to the same lipid-lowing effects compared with therapy with higher dosage of atorvastatin, but it may not result in a significant reduction in serum levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and increase of TIMP-1.

Key words: atorvastatin, ezetimibe, lipid-lowing, metalloproteinases