Effect of Atorvastatin and Pioglitazone on Plasma Levels of Adhesion Molecules in Non-Diabetic Patients With Hypertension or Stable Angina or Both

BACKGROUND: It was to study the effect of atorvastatin, pioglitazone and their combination on plasma levels of adhesion molecules in patients with hypertension or stable angina or both. METHODS: It was an open-label, randomized parallel-group study. Forty-five atorvastatin-naive patients with hypertension or stable angina or both, were randomized to receive either atorvastatin (19 patients; 10 mg OD for 12 weeks) or pioglitazone (26 patients; 30 mg OD for 12 weeks). Another group of 30 patients who were already on atorvastatin were put on add-on pioglitazone therapy (pioglitazone (15 mg OD) + atorvastatin (10 mg OD) for 12 weeks). Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) levels were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of therapy. RESULTS: Atorvastatin monotherapy significantly reduced plasma sICAM-1, but pioglitazone monotherapy did not produce any significant effect. Addition of pioglitazone in patients already receiving atorvastatin also significantly reduced plasma sICAM-1 level. However, there was no significant change in plasma hsCRP and sVCAM-1 levels in any of the groups after 12 weeks of therapy. CONCLUSION: There is therapeutic advantage of combining pioglitazone and atorvastatin on plasma sICAM-1 levels.