Effects of Statins on Arterial Blood Pressure: a Blinded Clinical Randomized Trial

Now attention focuses on additional actions of statins which are independent from 3 hydroxy3 methylglutarylcoenzyme a reductase inhibition of them. The aim of this study was antihypertensive effect of statins. We performed a randomized, -blinded, placebo-controlled trial with equal allocation to simvastatin, 20 mg; or placebo for 6 months from December 2008 till June 2009. one hundred patients without known cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol screening levels of 130 to 190 mg/dL & BP <140/90 mm Hg, had assessment of BP at rest in supine position(SBP and DBP, respectively)in monthly manner for two months. Bloodpressure values for placebo vs statins were compared. The average of blood pressure in the statin group was124.8/81.12 and in the placebo was 123.75/87.125. Statins modestly but significantly reduced BP relative to placebo, 115.5/71.9(p= 0.02)) in one month after treatment. In placebo group BP reached to 124.25/84.25. However in the second month systolic blood pressure decreased but the diastolic blood pressure increased by one MM/HG (p= 0.5). In Theplacebo group blood pressure increased to 128.32/89.6. Reductions in SBPandDBP occurred withstatinsin normotensive and prehypertensive subjects. These modest effects may contribute to the reduced risk of strokeandcardiovascular events and the mortality reported onstatins.