title: The effects of hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitors on platelet thrombus formation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitors (HMG CoA RIs) markedly improve the lipid profile of patients with hypercholesterolemia, but the magnitude and time course of the effect of these drugs on other risk factors for atherosclerosis are not well defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a random assignment, double-blind design to compare the effect of 8 weeks of HMG CoA RI therapy with either pravastatin (40 mg QD; n=12) or simvastatin (20 mg QD; n=12) with placebo (n=13) on serum lipids, platelet thrombus formation (PTF), and markers of inflammation and thrombosis in patients with coronary artery disease. PTF was measured using a validated ex vivo perfusion chamber system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total and LDL cholesterol decreased 20.3 +/- 12.7% and 31.4 +/- 16.5% in the HMG CoA RI group and were unchanged with placebo (P<0.01). Triglycerides also decreased 15.3 +/- 22.5% with HMG CoA RI therapy, but increased 8.4 +/- 30.0% with placebo (P=0.01). PTF increased 54.1 +/- 89.0% with placebo and decreased 8.0 +/- 46.82% with HMG CoA RI treatment (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMG CoA RI therapy with pravastatin or simvastatin reduces PTF after only 8 weeks of therapy. Such lipid effects may contribute to the prompt reduction in cardiovascular events noted in some clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Section of Preventive Cardiology, Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102, USA. pthomps@harthosp.org
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Niall M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Moyna
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Satyendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin