title: Pravastatin immunomodulates IL-6 and C-reactive protein, but not IL-1 and TNF-alpha, in cardio-pulmonary bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While statins are increasingly used in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the anti-inflammatory effects of individual statins, within the context of various treatment regimes, need further examination. The present study evaluates the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of the short-term, preoperative and intensive postoperative use of pravastatin in CPB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty three patients undergoing CPB were enrolled in a randomized, prospective clinical study. One group (n = 21), received pravastatin, the other (n = 22) did not. Patients in the pravastatin group received one dose of 40 mg per day for nine days, starting 48 hours before CPB, with an additional dose of 40 mg one hour after surgery. Plasma levels of selected inflammatory mediators were measured at baseline and tracked systematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pravastatin reduced postoperative interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels significantly at 24 and 48 hours, and at seven days. Mean +/- SD values, for treated versus untreated patients were: at 24 hours, 159.5 +/- 58.5 versus 251.2 +/- 53.0 pg/mL (p < 0.001); at 48 hours, 81.9 +/- 31.5 versus 194.2 +/- 56.3 pg/mL (p < 0.001); and at seven days, 16.4 +/- 7.2 versus 30.8 +/- 12.6 (p < 0.001). C-reactive protein (CRP) decreased significantly on the seventh postoperative day, when plasma levels were 3.6 +/- 1.1 in the treated patients versus 8.2 +/- 2.1 mg/dL in the controls (p < 0.001). No changes in plasma IL-1 and TNF-alpha were found during entire study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pravastatin induced a precocious modulation of IL-6 expression and a later reduction of plasma CRP levels. Pravastatin;s effects on the expression of these pivotal inflammatory mediators strongly support its well-timed use in CPB.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department Clinica Las Condes, Cardiovascular Division, Hospital Clinico de la Fuerza Aerea de Chile, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Andres Bello, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caorsi
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munoz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D017035:Pravastatin