Fluvastatin therapy improves microcirculation in patients with hyperlipidaemia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fluvastatin on the microcirculation of patients with hyperlipidaemia (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >160 mg/dL, triglycerides <350 mg/dl) inadequately controlled by diet. After a dietary run-in of 4 weeks, patients were randomised in a double-blind study to receive fluvastatin 40 mg twice daily (n=24) or placebo (n=24) for 12 weeks. The effect on microcirculation was assessed using capillary microscopy and laser Doppler fluxmetry at the nailfold at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after initiation of therapy. Capillaroscopy showed that fluvastatin improved microcirculation, i.e. time to peak flow during postocclusive reactive hyperaemia dropped from 19.7±7.2 s at baseline to 12.3±9.5 s at week 6 (P<0.01) and 10.6±6.5 s at week 12 (P<0.0001). These results were confirmed using laser Doppler fluxmetry to study microcirculation in thermoregulatory capillaries at the same site. A significant decrease in total and LDL-cholesterol was achieved during fluvastatin therapy. In conclusion, fluvastatin therapy improves microcirculation in nutritive as well as thermoregulatory capillaries in hypercholesterolaemic patients within 6 weeks.