Ezetimibe Monotherapy Ameliorates Vascular Function in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia Through Decreasing Oxidative Stress

Hirotsugu Kurobe; Ken-ichi Aihara; Mayuko Higashida; Yoichiro Hirata; Masako Nishiya; Yuki Matsuoka; Tamotsu Kanbara; Taisuke Nakayama; Hajime Kinoshita; Mikio Sugano; Eiki Fujimoto; Ayako Kurobe; Noriko Sugasawa; Takashi Kitaichi; Masashi Akaike; Masataka Sata; Toshio Matsumoto; Tetsuya Kitagawa

doi:10.5551/jat.9548

Original Article

Ezetimibe Monotherapy Ameliorates Vascular Function in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia Through Decreasing Oxidative Stress

Hirotsugu Kurobe, Ken-ichi Aihara, Mayuko Higashida, Yoichiro Hirata, Masako Nishiya, Yuki Matsuoka, Tamotsu Kanbara, Taisuke Nakayama, Hajime Kinoshita, Mikio Sugano, Eiki Fujimoto, Ayako Kurobe, Noriko Sugasawa, Takashi Kitaichi, Masashi Akaike, Masataka Sata, Toshio Matsumoto, Tetsuya Kitagawa

Author information

Hirotsugu Kurobe
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Ken-ichi Aihara
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Mayuko Higashida
Department of Nutrition & Metabolism, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Yoichiro Hirata
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Masako Nishiya
Division of Nursing, Tokushima University Hospital.
Yuki Matsuoka
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Tamotsu Kanbara
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Taisuke Nakayama
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Hajime Kinoshita
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Mikio Sugano
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Eiki Fujimoto
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Ayako Kurobe
Division of Nursing, Tokushima University Hospital.
Noriko Sugasawa
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Takashi Kitaichi
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Masashi Akaike
Department of Medical Education, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Masataka Sata
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Toshio Matsumoto
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
Tetsuya Kitagawa
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.

Keywords: Ezetimibe, Vascular function, Oxidative stress

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2011 Volume 18 Issue 12 Pages 1080-1089

DOI https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.9548

View "Advance Publication" version (October 26, 2011).

Details

Abstract

Aim: Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of cholesterol intestinal absorption, is a lipid lowering agent. However, anti-atherogenic effects of ezetimibe have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the objective in this study was to clarify the vascular protective effects of ezetimibe in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Methods: Ezetimibe was administered to 20 patients with hypercholesterolemia (group E), and 20 age- and sex-matched patients with hypercholesterolemia were followed as controls (group C). Difference in metabolic profiles and cardiovascular surrogate markers before ezetimibe treatment and after 12 weeks of ezetimibe treatment were statistically evaluated.
Results: Ezetimibe treatment significantly reduced serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL). In addition, the values of body mass index, body weight, waist circumference, plasma HbA1c and urinary albumin were significantly decreased in group E compared to those in group C. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and adiponectin levels were significantly increased in group E compared to those in group C. The values of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), mean arterial blood pressure (m-ABP), and % of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were significantly improved in group E. Furthermore, ultrasonic studies demonstrated amelioration of the vascular stiffness of common carotid arteries in group E but not in group C. These vascular protective effects of ezetimibe were statistically correlated with the decreased values of MDA-LDL and MDA-LDL-to-LDL-C ratio but not with those of LDL-C.
Conclusion: Ezetimibe has a lipid lowering-independent vascular protective effect in patients with hypercholesterolemia through decreasing oxidative stress.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!