title: Early effects of simvastatin versus atorvastatin on oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in hyperlipidemic subjects.
abstract: The authors investigated the time-dependent action of atorvastatin and simvastatin on oxidative stress and cytokine levels immediately after the start of treatment. These factors play a role in endothelial dysfunction. Hyperlipidemic patients (n = 132) were assigned to treatment with 40 mg atorvastatin, 40 mg simvastatin, or placebo. Blood samples were taken before, 2 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, and 3 weeks after the administration of the statin or placebo to evaluate serum concentrations of total peroxides (TP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble intercellular vascular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM 1). In the atorvastatin group the TP changes were significantly different at 2 hours and 24 hours (p = 0.005), whereas in the simvastatin group there was a gradual, more or less linear decline in TP until 7 days (p = 0.006) and then a plateau. Simvastatin exhibited a faster statistically significant decrease over time in IL-6 and sICAM 1 levels (at 7 days, p = 0.014 and p = 0.001, respectively). TNF-alpha demonstrated a faster linear trend in the simvastatin group, but the significant effect appeared late (p = 0.006). Both simvastatin and atorvastatin exerted early beneficial effects on oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and endothelial activation in hyperlipidemic subjects. These effects became significant 2 hours following the initiation of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Heraklion University Hospital, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Marketou
authors.forename: Evangelos A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Zacharis
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikitovic
authors.forename: Emmanuel S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ganotakis
authors.forename: Frangiskos I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Parthenakis
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maliaraki
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D011758:Pyrroles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin