The effects of Atorvastatin calcium on the incidence of macular edema after phacoemulsification in diabetic patients

Objective To investigate the effects of Atorvastatin calcium on the incidence of macular edema after phacoemulsification in diabetic patients. Methods Forty two eyes of 42 cataract patients with diabetes and hypercholesterolemia who underwent phacoemulsification surgery were divided into interventional group (23 patients) and non-interventional group (19 patients) by random number table methods. The blood glucose and pressure of patients in two groups was controlled strictly before and after surgery. 10 mg Atorvastatin calcium per day was delivered one day after cataract surgery for the patients of interventional group and used for 24 weeks. No lipid-lowing agent was provided to the patients of non-interventional group. The main outcome measures included the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retina thickness (CRT), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). No significant difference was shown in the BCVA, CRT, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C in two groups before phacoemulsification surgery (t=1.251, 1.257, 1.031, 1.042, 1.461; P>0.05). At the end of the 24 weeks after surgery, the efficacy evaluation and comparative analysis were performed. The analysis included the BCVA, the incidence of macular edema, CRT, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. Results The BCVA was no significantly different between two groups one day after surgery (t=1.523, P>0.05). But 4, 12, 24 weeks after phacoemulsification surgery, the BCVA in interventional group was better than that in non-interventional group(t=3.920, 3.012, 7.025; P 0.05). Whereas, the significance difference of the CRT was occurred in two groups 4, 12, 24 weeks after surgery(t=4.673, 7.583, 9.035; P 0.05). Conclusion The treatment of Atorvastatin calcium effectively reduced the incidence rate of macular edema in hypercholesterolemia patients with good glycemic and hypertension control after phacoemulsification surgery. Key words: Macular edema/drug therapy; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors/therapeutic use