Effects of atorvastatin and atorvastatin withdrawal on soluble CD40L and adipocytokines in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.
OBJECTIVE
Beyond lipid lowering, statins have pleiotropic effects with favourable benefits against atherogenesis. Withdrawal of statin therapy has been demonstrated to abrogate vascular protective activity and even increase the incidence of thrombotic vascular events. The purpose of this study is to investigate the serial changes of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and two adipocytokines, adiponectin and resistin, after short-term atorvastatin therapy and withdrawal in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients with hypercholesterolaemia received atorvastatin 10 mg/day for 3 months. Serum lipid profiles, and levels of sCD40L, adiponectin and resistin, were assessed before and immediately after 3 months' statin therapy. Serum levels of sCD40L and adiponectin were also measured on the 3 consecutive days after statin withdrawal. After 3 months' statin therapy, levels of sCD40L (1.93 +/- 1.13 vs. 1.30 +/- 0.97 ng/mL), total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were all reduced significantly (p < 0.05). However, sCD40L level tended to increase towards baseline on the first and second days after statin withdrawal, but was not significantly elevated until the third day after withdrawal (1.89 +/- 1.28 vs. 1.30 +/- 0.97 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Total cholesterol and LDL-C levels did not increase during the 3 days of statin withdrawal. No significant changes of adiponectin and resistin levels were shown after statin therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the effect of statin on sCD40L level was abrogated after therapy withdrawal, and was independent of serum cholesterol level. Statin therapy did not significantly alter levels of adiponectin and resistin.
Chu
Chih-Sheng
CS
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lee
Kun-Tai
KT
Lee
Ming-Yi
MY
Su
Ho-Ming
HM
Voon
Wen-Choi
WC
Sheu
Sheng-Hsiung
SH
Lai
Wen-Ter
WT
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D052243:Resistin; D014280:Triglycerides; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin