Synergistic effect of amlodipine and atorvastatin on blood pressure, left ventricular remodeling, and C-reactive protein in hypertensive patients with primary hypercholesterolemia

Heart Vessels. 2008 Mar;23(2):91-5. doi: 10.1007/s00380-007-1008-7. Epub 2008 Apr 4.

Abstract

Our aim in this study was to investigate the changes of serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and uric acid (UA), and evaluate the synergistic effect of amlodipine and atorvastatin on blood pressure and left ventricular remodeling in hypertensive patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. One hundred and twenty-six hypertensive patients with hypercholesterolemia were randomized into amlodipine group (10 mg/day, group A, n = 65) and amlodipine (10 mg/day) plus atorvastatin group (20 mg/day, group B, n = 61), treated for 4 months continuously. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and UA were determined, and blood pressure of both groups was examined before and after treatment. Left ventricular posterior wall thickness and interventricular spectum thickness were measured by echocardiography, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was calculated. After 4-months of treatment with atorvastatin, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and UA were significantly decreased in group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was elevated (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were reduced in both groups (P < 0.05), and blood pressure in group B was markedly lower than that in group A after treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with that before treatment, LVMI in both groups decreased (P < 0.05), to a significantly lower degree in group B than in group A (P < 0.05). Atorvastatin can decrease serum concentrations of hs-CRP and UA. The amlodipine-atorvastatin combination markedly reduces blood pressure and reverses left ventricular hypertrophy more than amlodipine monotherapy. The positive effect suggests that in hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic patients, the combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin could be the treatment of choice.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amlodipine / therapeutic use*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Atorvastatin
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Heptanoic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood
  • Hypercholesterolemia / complications
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / physiopathology
  • Hypertension / blood
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / etiology
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / physiopathology
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / prevention & control
  • Lipids / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uric Acid / blood
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Lipids
  • Pyrroles
  • Amlodipine
  • Uric Acid
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Atorvastatin