Vascular effects of estradiol combined with the lipid-lowering drug fluvastatin

This is the first study investigating the effect of the lipid lowering drug fluvastatin and the natural estrogen 17 beta-estradiol on the synthesis of prostacyclin and endothelin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Both fluvastatin and estradiol alone significantly increased prostacyclin p roduction and decreased endothelin production. The combination of fluvastat in with estradiol significantly enhanced prostacyclin synthesis compared to the effect of the single compounds. Endothelin production was significantl y decreased by the combination, the effect being moderately higher than for the compounds alone. Since prostacyclin is a vasodilator and endothelin a vasoconstrictor, the combined treatment with fluvastatin and estradiol may have clinical significance for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases es pecially in postmenopausal women.