The effect of atorvastatin on platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Lipid-lowering therapy was shown to have several beneficial effects in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on platelet aggregation in patients with CAD.


METHODS
Twenty-five hypercholesterolaemic patients who had angiographically proven CAD and 16 normal subjects were enrolled. All patients received 10 mg/day atorvastatin for two months. Anti-platelet agents were discontinued 15 days prior to blood sampling at the beginning and at the end of the atorvastatin therapy. Aggregometric curves of the platelets in response to ADP, collagen and epinephrine were obtained using the aggregometry (turbidimetric) technique.


RESULTS
In patients with CAD, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) basal levels were measured (230 +/- 49 mg/dl, 140 +/- 41 mg/dl, respectively). Following lipid-lowering therapy, TC and LDL-C decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The activation measurements of aggregometric curves decreased significantly compared with basal parameters in response to ADP but not in response to collagen and epinephrine.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipid-lowering therapy with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, had a marked reduction effect on platelet aggregation.
Tekten
Tarkan
T
Adnan Menderes University Medical School, Cardiology Department, Aydin, Turkey. tarkantekten@superonline.com
Ceyhan
Ceyhun
C
Ercan
Ertugrul
E
Onbasili
Alper Osman
AO
Turkoglu
Cuneyt
C
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin