Hypertensive patient under statin treatment - one goal achieved only?

Abstract

Hypertension and hyperlipidemia are very common phenomenons in adults, and they contribute to increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases. Although statins are widely used for cholesterol-lowering treatment, growing attention focuses on other their pleiotropic actions. It appears from the experimental studies, that they have additional hypotensive effect in many patophysiological mechanisms including impact on renin-angiotensin system, vascular endothelium, sympathetic activity. Some studies have also shown that statins have significant impact on pressure reduction measured in the carotid artery and decreasing wave reflection from the body. There is convincing evidence that lipid-lowering treatment prevents cardiovascular events in primary prevention subjects at very high risk. It turned out in the available current studies (JUPITER eg.), that it might be useful to start statins treatment not only in high risk subjects but in moderate risk ones, also. Although it requires future research. According to results of randomized trials, the role of escalling doses of statins to decrease cardiovascular risk and regres atherosclerosis should be underlined. Some clinical evidence supports that among other pleiotropic actions, they also modestly lower blood pressure, especially in hypertensive patients, regardless from cholesterol level.
Arterial Hypertension 2010, vol. 14, no 2, pages 157-165.