Key result
Pravastatin accelerates declines in internal carotid artery shear stress and blood velocity versus placebo.
Why the study?
It is unknown whether statins affect wall shear stress (WSS) in the internal carotid artery.
RCT (n=355)
Pravastatin does not affect carotid WSS beyond age-related decline; challenges prior speculations on statin hemodynamic effects in the elderly.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite speculations, it is unknown whether statins affect wall shear stress (WSS). Therefore, the effect of pravastatin on WSS was investigated. METHODS: In 355 elderly individuals participating in the PROSPER study (follow up after 3 years), the effect of 40 mg pravastatin on WSS was assessed in the internal carotid artery using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: WSS and blood velocity decreased both in the pravastatin group and in the placebo group but decreased faster in the pravastatin group (P<0.04, P<0.02). Blood volume flow did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly subjects, the WSS and blood velocity of the internal carotid artery declines significantly over time and this decline is more pronounced in subjects treated with 40 mg pravastatin compared with the placebo group.
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Box et al. (2007) conducted an RCT in Elderly individuals (n=355). Pravastatin vs. Placebo was evaluated on Wall shear stress (WSS) and blood velocity in the internal carotid artery (p=P<0.04, P<0.02). Pravastatin 40 mg significantly accelerated the decline in wall shear stress (P<0.04) and blood velocity (P<0.02) in the internal carotid artery over 3 years compared with placebo.
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