title: The influence of atorvastatin on tendon healing: an experimental study on rabbits.
abstract: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. The most commonly used antihyperlipidemic drugs are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins), of which atorvastatin is one of the most widely used. Little is known about the relationship between tendinopathy and HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) or the effects of atorvastatin use on tendon healing following surgical repair of tendon rupture. We hypothesized that atorvastatin negatively affects this healing process. The Achilles tendons of 16 New Zealand rabbits were ruptured surgically and repaired with sutures. Eight of the rabbits were given oral atorvastatin. The other 8 served as a surgical control group. Six weeks postoperatively, all the rabbits were sacrificed, and the repaired tendons were removed. After standard histological preparation, fibroblastic activity, re-vascularization, collagenization, collagen construction, and inflammatory-cell infiltration were evaluated. On comparing the atorvastatin and surgical control groups, we observed no difference in fibroblastic activity. Although it did not reach statistical significance in our study, a difference was noted in revascularization, collagenization, and inflammatory cell infiltration; and a statistical difference was observed in collagen construction. Doubt remains about the adverse effect of atorvastatin use during tendon healing. Further investigations in animal and human models are needed on the effects of tendon healing when atorvastatin is administered for a longer time frame prior to the injury.
authors.affiliation: Goztepe Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul. Turkey. iesenkaya@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esenkaya
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sakarya
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unay
authors.forename: Nurzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elmali
authors.forename: Nasuhi Engin
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin