Statins decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases and deaths for cardiovascular causes, not only decreasing circulating lipids but also through endothelial anti-inflammatory effects. According to recent trials, it was hypothesized a third mechanism, too: a decrease in blood pressure. With a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, some Italian researchers have evaluated the hypotensive effect of pravastatin in subjects with hypertension and dyslipidemia. In the overall, 508 subjects have been enrolled, between 45 and 70 years of age, affected by mild hypertension and hyperlipemia; treatment was based on hydrochlorothiazide or fosinopril (randomly) and pravastatin or placebo (randomly too). During the follow-up, averagely lasted 2.6
years, there has been, as we expected, a higher decrease of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in the statin group than in the placebo group. In spite of the fact that all the groups have presented a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, there has been no further decrease in patients treated with pravastatin compared to the ones treated with placebo.
Pravastatin, at therapeutical doses for hyperlipemia, does not decrease blood pressure. Lacking an opposite evidence, this result must be applied to the whole statin class.
