Effects of systemic treatment with statins on skin barrier function and stratum corneum water-holding capacity.
BACKGROUND
Topical application of inhibitors of HMGCoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis, has been shown to induce impairment of barrier function.


OBJECTIVE
Assessing whether oral administration of statins used for reducing blood levels of cholesterol induces functional changes in stratum corneum barrier.


METHODS
69 subjects of both sexes under-going treatment for hypercholesterolemia (mean age 48 +/- 11 years) entered the study; 43 had been treated with simvastatin and 11 with pravastatin for 6 months; 15 only on dietary regimen served as controls. Efficiency of stratum corneum water barrier was evaluated by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement using an evaporimeter; water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum was assessed by the sorption-desorption test measured by capacitance. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA.


RESULTS
No differences were found between the groups (simvastatin, pravastatin, diet) concerning both basal TEWL and the dynamic of water binding in the stratum corneum.


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs based on inhibition of HMGCoA reductase does not alter the permeability barrier of the skin.
Brazzelli
V
V
Department of Dermatology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Italy.
Distante
F
F
Perani
G
G
Berardesca
E
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin