Statins in type 2 diabetes mellitus: target on lipids and vascular wall function.

The typical dyslipidaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus shows high levels of triglycerides, low levels of highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. In these patients low-dose atorvastatin (10 mg) results in a significant and relevant reduction in triglycerides and LDL-c. High-dose atorvastatin (80 mg) results in a better LDL-c reduction. The endothelial dysfunction is likely to be caused by factors related to insulin resistance and not by dyslipidaemia alone. The results from the DALI study (Diabetes Atorvastatin Lipid Intervention) on lipids and endothelial function are discussed, together with two invasive endothelial function studies in diabetics and hypertriglyceridaemic patients. The subgroup of diabetics in the large secondary prevention trials using statins are analysed with respect to total cholesterol lowering and death due to coronary heart disease and nonfatal myocardial infarction.