Atorvastatin treatment decreases inflammatory and proteolytic activity in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
BACKGROUND
Statins have anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet effects, which are known as non-lipid effects. Statin treatment can decrease endogenous inflammatory response.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of atorvastatin on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) - markers of the proteinolytic and inflammatory activity.


METHODS
In this prospective study 44 patients with hypercholesterolemia were randomly assigned into 2 groups; Group 1 (n=22) treated with atorvastatin and diet for 2 months, and Group 2 (n=22) - diet alone. MMP-9 and hs-CRP were measured at baseline and two months later.


RESULTS
Groups were matched for age, sex and baseline characteristics. Lipid levels decreased by 32% (LDL from 153.9+/-26.6 to 94.5+/-20.8 mg/dl, p<0.005) in the atorvastatin group and by 9% in the diet alone group. Atorvastatin lowered plasma CRP from 5.16+/-1.9 to 2.88+/-1.06 mg/L (p<0.001) and MMP-9 activity from 64.3+/-28.1 to 35.4+/-20.0 ng/ml (p<0.0001). Atorvastatin-induced reductions in CRP and MMP-9 were greater than in the diet alone group. MMP-9 levels did not show significant changes in Group 2 after two months of diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin treatment decreases inflammatory and proteolytic activity in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Ercan
Ertugrul
E
Central Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Izmir, Turkey. ertugrulercan@yahoo.com
Tengiz
Istemihan
I
Altuglu
Imre
I
Sekuri
Cevat
C
Aliyev
Emil
E
Ercan
H Ekin
HE
Akin
Mustafa
M
D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9