Correlation between inflammation and oxidative stress in normocholesterolemic coronary artery disease patients 'on' and 'off' atorvastatin for short time intervals.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether variations in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory parameters occur with short term administration and discontinuation of atorvastatin in normocholesterolemic coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.


METHODS
Forty CAD patients with near normal serum cholesterol levels (total cholesterol <240 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol <130 mg/dl) were continuously enrolled and randomized to groups A and B (20 patients taking atorvastatin) and groups C and D (20 patients not taking atorvastatin). Atorvastatin (10 mg/day) was continued in group A, withdrawn in group B and started in groups C and D for 6 weeks. Thereafter atorvastatin was withdrawn in group A and C, restarted in group B, and continued in group D for further 6 weeks. CRP, FRAP and TBARS were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks in all the groups.


RESULTS
Baseline CRP, TBARS and FRAP levels were significantly different (p < 0.05) between groups A and B and C and D at the time of enrollment, indicating lower levels of oxidative stress (FRAP-172.40 +/- 23.41 nmol Fe(2+)/l vs 142.62 +/- 15.73 nmol Fe(2+)/l and TBARS-3.66 +/- 1.14 nmol/ml vs 6.11 +/- 1.85 nmol/ml) and low grade inflammation (CRP-1.38 +/- 0.69 mg/l vs 3.19 +/- 1.77 mg/l) in statin treated groups. In group B, discontinuation resulted in increase in CRP (2.87 +/- 0.98 mg/l) and TBARS (5.75 +/- 1.35 nmol/ml) and decrease in FRAP (133.132 +/- 13.32 nmol Fe(2+)/l) and whereas group A patients did not show significant variation in values compared to baseline (CRP-1.36 +/- 0.33 mg/l, FRAP-155.45 +/- 19.51 and TBARS-4.22 +/- 0.81). Administration of atorvastatin caused a marked reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation in groups C and D (CRP-1.13 +/- 0.99 mg/l and 1.73 +/- 1.60 mg/l, FRAP-166.54 +/- 34.11 and 177.44 +/- 13.31 nmol Fe(2+)/l, TBARS-4.66 +/- 2.33 and 3.55 +/- 1.25 nmol/ml respectively). The values returned to pretreatment levels on discontinuation of the drug in group C (CRP-2.61 +/- 1.28 mg/l, FRAP-138.49 +/- 19.62 nmol Fe(2+)/l, TBARS-6.13 +/- 0.74 nmol/ml) whereas the decline was maintained in group D (CRP-1.62 +/- 1.48 mg/l, FRAP-173.07 +/- 9.03 nmol Fe(2+)/l, TBARS-3.75 +/- 1.03 nmol/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
Administration and withdrawal of atorvastatin caused changes in markers of oxidative stress which closely correlated with changes in marker of inflammation. Further, the salutary effects were of quick onset, but were rapidly reversed on withdrawal of atorvastatin.
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
M K
MK
Thomas
D
D
Narang
R
R
Lakshmy
R
R
Gupta
N
N
Naik
S K
SK
Maulik
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin