Effectiveness of atorvastatin on the levels of nitric oxide and serum lipids in coronary artery disease patients: Response to clopidogrel resistance

Introduction and aim: Lipid lower drugs have been widely used to prevent atherosclerosis in patients with heart disease. This study aims to compare the findings between the efficacy of 20 mg/day and 40 mg/day atorvastatin supplementation for 16 weeks, on nitric oxide level and lipid profile in clopidogrel resistant and non-resistant patients with coronary heart disease (CAD). Methods: This retrospective study included two hundred and eighty-four participants with CAD. Patients were subjected to platelets function to determine the clopidogrel resistance. 88 patients were included into the clopidogrel resistant group, and 196 patients were included into the clopidogrel non-resistant group. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups depending on the daily dose of atorvastatin therapy (daily intake of 20 mg and 40 mg, orally). Results: Irrelevant to the study group, there was significant increase in serum levels of NO following 40 mg/day clopidogrel supplementation for 16 weeks as compared to 20 mg/day clopidogrel supplementation, P ≤ 0.05. This was associated with a significant reduction in serum lipids (total cholesterol and LDL-C), P ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: Atorvastatin supplementation improves serum nitric oxide level, and serum lipid profile in patients with CAD with and without clopidogrel resistance.