Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Low-dose metoprolol CR/XL and fluvastatin slow progression of carotid intima-media thickness: Main results from the Beta-Blocker Cholesterol-Lowering Asymptomatic Plaque Study (BCAPS)

Hedblad, Bo LU ; Wikstrand, J ; Janzon, Lars LU ; Wedel, H and Berglund, Göran LU (2001) In Circulation 103(13). p.1721-1726
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Statins reduce cardiovascular events and progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). beta-Blockers are also known to reduce cardiovascular events, but less is known about their effects on carotid IMT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial to compare the effects of low-dose metoprolol CR/XL (25 mg once daily) and fluvastatin (40 mg once daily) on the progression of carotid IMT during 36 months of treatment in 793 subjects who had carotid plaque but no symptoms of carotid artery disease. Changes in mean IMT in the common carotid artery and maximal IMT in the bulb were the main outcome variables. Death and cardiovascular events were monitored. Progression of... (More)
BACKGROUND: Statins reduce cardiovascular events and progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). beta-Blockers are also known to reduce cardiovascular events, but less is known about their effects on carotid IMT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial to compare the effects of low-dose metoprolol CR/XL (25 mg once daily) and fluvastatin (40 mg once daily) on the progression of carotid IMT during 36 months of treatment in 793 subjects who had carotid plaque but no symptoms of carotid artery disease. Changes in mean IMT in the common carotid artery and maximal IMT in the bulb were the main outcome variables. Death and cardiovascular events were monitored. Progression of IMT(max) in the carotid bulb at both 18 and 36 months was reduced by metoprolol CR/XL (-0.058 mm/y; 95% CI, -0.094 to -0.023; P=0.004; and -0.023 mm/y; 95% CI, -0.044 to -0.003; P=0.014, respectively). Incidence of cardiovascular events tended to be lower in metoprolol CR/XL-treated patients (5 versus 13 patients, P=0.055). Rate of IMT(mean) progression in the common carotid at 36 months was reduced by fluvastatin (-0.009 mm/y; 95% CI, -0.015 to -0.003; P=0.002). Women in the fluvastatin group had increased frequency of transiently high liver enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first randomized trial to show that a beta-blocker can reduce the rate of progression of carotid IMT in clinically healthy, symptom-free subjects with carotid plaque. This suggests that beta-blockers may have a favorable effect on atherosclerosis development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Circulation
volume
103
issue
13
pages
1721 - 1726
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:11282901
ISSN
1524-4539
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
984bc2a2-7f35-4ace-b34b-361c8b7ee6dc (old id 1123062)
alternative location
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/103/13/1721
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:57:59
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:45:33
@article{984bc2a2-7f35-4ace-b34b-361c8b7ee6dc,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: Statins reduce cardiovascular events and progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). beta-Blockers are also known to reduce cardiovascular events, but less is known about their effects on carotid IMT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial to compare the effects of low-dose metoprolol CR/XL (25 mg once daily) and fluvastatin (40 mg once daily) on the progression of carotid IMT during 36 months of treatment in 793 subjects who had carotid plaque but no symptoms of carotid artery disease. Changes in mean IMT in the common carotid artery and maximal IMT in the bulb were the main outcome variables. Death and cardiovascular events were monitored. Progression of IMT(max) in the carotid bulb at both 18 and 36 months was reduced by metoprolol CR/XL (-0.058 mm/y; 95% CI, -0.094 to -0.023; P=0.004; and -0.023 mm/y; 95% CI, -0.044 to -0.003; P=0.014, respectively). Incidence of cardiovascular events tended to be lower in metoprolol CR/XL-treated patients (5 versus 13 patients, P=0.055). Rate of IMT(mean) progression in the common carotid at 36 months was reduced by fluvastatin (-0.009 mm/y; 95% CI, -0.015 to -0.003; P=0.002). Women in the fluvastatin group had increased frequency of transiently high liver enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first randomized trial to show that a beta-blocker can reduce the rate of progression of carotid IMT in clinically healthy, symptom-free subjects with carotid plaque. This suggests that beta-blockers may have a favorable effect on atherosclerosis development.}},
  author       = {{Hedblad, Bo and Wikstrand, J and Janzon, Lars and Wedel, H and Berglund, Göran}},
  issn         = {{1524-4539}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{13}},
  pages        = {{1721--1726}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Circulation}},
  title        = {{Low-dose metoprolol CR/XL and fluvastatin slow progression of carotid intima-media thickness: Main results from the Beta-Blocker Cholesterol-Lowering Asymptomatic Plaque Study (BCAPS)}},
  url          = {{http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/103/13/1721}},
  volume       = {{103}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}