The influence of short-term treatment with simvastatin on the inflammatory profile of patients with hypercholesterolaemia.
BACKGROUND
Treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors can reduce cardiovascular mortality of patients with atherosclerosis. This effect is probably due not only to a decrease in concentration of cholesterol, but also to non-lipid-involving mechanisms elicited by the action of statin drugs.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of short-term therapy with simvastatin on markers of inflammation and oxidation processes in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.


METHODS
We administered 20mg simvastatin daily for 12 weeks to 19 patients with hypercholesterolaemia (250-400 mg/dl). Peripheral blood samples for evaluation of plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (malonaldehyde), stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NOx) and interleukin 6 (11-6) were taken before and after the therapy.


RESULTS
Plasma levels of malonaldehyde decreased significantly (from 4.533+/-0.428 versus 3.690+/-0.310 micromol/l, P = 0.04) during the study period. Similarly, there was a significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of NOx (from 33.477+/-4.352 micromol/l versus 25.919+/-2.561 micromol/l, P = 0.02). There were significant positive correlations between concentrations of total cholesterol and NOx in plasma (r = 0.4397, P = 0.008) and of low-density lipoprotein and NOx (r = 0.3987, P = 0.02). The plasma level of interleukin 6 remained unchanged by the intervention (1.837+/-0.200 versus 1.820+/-0.169 pg/ml, P = 0.54).


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term therapy with simvastatin decreases the plasma concentrations of markers of peroxidation of lipids and of stable metabolites of nitric oxide in hypercholesterolaemic patients, but leaves levels of interleukin 6 unaffected.
Deskur-Smielecka
E
E
Department of Cardiology-Intensive Therapy, University School of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. edeskur@polbox.com
Wykr towicz
A
A
Kempa
M
M
Furmaniuk
J
J
Wysocki
H
H
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019821:Simvastatin