title: Effect of systemic treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs on the skin barrier function in humans.
abstract: The intercellular lipids of stratum corneum are predominantly formed by cholesterol, ceramides and free fatty acids. Cholesterol synthesis is inhibited by statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs (lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin). The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of these drugs on skin barrier function. Knowledge about the effect on epidermis of systemic inhibition of cholesterol synthesis may improve our understanding of the skin barrier function. Seventeen statin-treated subjects were compared to controls. All were patch-tested with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and the skin was evaluated after 24 h and after 7 days by measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema and visual scoring. After 24 h as well as after one week erythema was significantly less pronounced in the statin-treated group than in controls (p < 0.001). No significant differences in TEWL were found between the groups at any time. The results imply a decreased bioavailability of SLS in the statin-treated group, while no evidence for an altered permeability barrier to water was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gentofte hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramsing
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malinowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meibom
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007509:Irritants; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D007509:Irritants; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin