title: Effects of statin on plaque stability and thrombogenicity in hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Plaque stability and thrombogenicity contribute to development and clinical expression of atherosclerosis. Experimental studies have shown that lipoproteins or mevalonate regulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression, providing nonlipid mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered simvastatin 20 mg daily during 14 weeks to 32 hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with pretreatment values, simvastatin significantly lowered lipoprotein levels (all P<0.01). Compared with pretreatment values, simvastatin significantly lowered plasma levels of MMP-9, TF, and PAI-1 (P=0.009, P=0.032, and P=0.007, respectively). There were significant inverse correlations between pretreatment MMP-9, TF activity or PAI-1 antigen and the degree of change in those levels after simvastatin (r=-0.793, P<0.001; r=-0.482, P=0.005 and r=-0.590, P<0.001, respectively). Of interest, there were significant correlation between pretreatment or percent changes in MMP-9 levels and pretreatment or percent changes in PAI-1 antigen (r=0.293, P=0.019 and r=0.375, P=0.034, respectively). However, no significant correlations between lipoprotein levels and levels of plaque stability or thrombogenicity markers were determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduction of plaque stability and thrombogenicity markers with statin may contribute to the cardiovascular event reduction and explain the early clinical benefit in clinical trials, independent of lipoprotein changes.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon Medical School, Inchon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Kwang Kon
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Jeong Yeal
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Dong Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Gi Soo
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dae Sung
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eak Kyun
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019821:Simvastatin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9