Pitavastatin improves serum resistin levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
OBJECTIVE
Resistin in serum is associated with high risk in patients with atherosclerosis. This clinical study aimed to investigate whether pitavastatin can regulate the serum level of resistin, together with levels of other inflammatory cytokines and adipocytokines.


METHODS
Forty two outpatients (mean age 65.2 +/- 12.6 yr, M/F: 21/21) with hypercholesterolemia were administered 2 mg of pitavastatin and serum levels of resistin, together with serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-alpha and hsCRP, were measured before, and 12 weeks after enrollment.


RESULTS
There was no significant gender-related difference in initial serum resistin levels. Pitavastatin significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks. Initial levels of resistin showed a significant correlation with those of hsCRP (r=0.38, p=0.013), but not TNF-alpha or HOMA-R. Serum resistin, but not adiponectin and leptin, levels were significantly decreased, dropping from 17.1 +/- 9.9 ng/ dL to 15.2+/-10.0 (p=0.001) after 12 weeks of administration. The patient group with a baseline hsCRP > or = 0.1 at enrollment (n=17) had decreased levels of both resistin and hsCRP (p=0.011 and p=0.022, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the pleiotropic effect of pitavastatin on the serum resistin concentration, suggesting that it may assist in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Ohbayashi
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Internal Medicine, JA Gifu Tohno-Kousei Hospital, 76-1 Toki-Cho, Mizunami City, Gifu, Japan. ohbayasi@nn.iij4u.or.jp
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011804:Quinolines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin; D011804:Quinolines; D052243:Resistin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C108475:pitavastatin