Atorvastatin for the management of Type 2 diabetic patients with dyslipidaemia. A mid-term (9 months) treatment experience

Dyslipidaemia, particularly increased triglycerides (TG) and low HDL-choles terol (HDL-C), represents an important risk factor for Type 2 diabetes (T2D M) macrovascular complications. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of ator vastatin in a population of T2DM patients according to their cardiovascular risk: evidence of myocardial or coronary lesions (group A); evidence of fa miliar hypercholesterolaemia (group B); evidence of stable cardiovascular r isk (group C), The mean age was 64+/-7 yr, mean disease duration 9.5+/-3 yr , the mean body mass index (BMI) 27.7+/-1.3 kg/m(2), mean HbA(1c) 8+/-0.6%; total cholesterol 256+/-24 mg/dl in group A, 298+/-30 and 244+/-31 in grou ps B and C, respectively (p<0.05 B vs A and C), Moreover, mean HDL-C values were about 45+/-7 mg/dl, TG 225+/-20 mg/dl, systolic and diastolic blood p ressure 144+/-7 mmHg and 84+/-8 mmHg, respectively; fibrinogen values 330+/ -23 mg/dl and microalbuminuria 58+/-9 mg/l, Lipid profile improved signific antly during the treatment with personalised doses of atorvastatin (general ly 10 mg/day) designed to achieve the therapeutic goals: the reduction of t otal cholesterol, TG (p<0.01), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.01) and an incr ease of HDL-C were measured. The treatment with atorvastatin induced signif icant reduction of microalbuminuria and fibrinogen levels (p<0.01), Moreove r, in the subgroup of patients with hypertension, diastolic blood pressure values were reduced without modification of antihypertensive treatment. Thi s preliminary study suggests that the management of hypercholesterolaemia w ith atorvastatin in T2DM patients may be useful both for the primary and se condary prevention of chronic complications of T2DM, (C) 1999, Editrice Kur tis.