title: Atorvastatin favorably modulates proinflammatory cytokine profile in patients following deep vein thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been shown to be associated with inflammation. Statins that might reduce VTE risk have been found to exert anti-inflammatory properties in patients at cardiovascular risk. We sought to investigate whether anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin can be observed in VTE patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Atorvastatin 40 mg/d was given for 3 days to 26 consecutive VTE patients following discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy and 25 controls. We evaluated interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, soluble P-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen in peripheral venous blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VTE patients displayed higher C-reactive protein (p=0.013), IL-1b (p=0.03), IL-8 (p=0.03) and vWF (p<0.0001) compared with the controls. In VTE patients atorvastatin decreased IL-6 (p=0.0003), IL-8 (p=0.003) and P-selectin (p<0.0001), but increased IL-10 (p=0.001), with no association with C-reactive protein or cholesterol-lowering effects. Atorvastatin reduced IL-1b (p=0.01), IL-6 (p=0.03) and P-selectin (p=0.002) in controls. Residual venous thrombosis was associated with elevated IL-6 and P-selectin, whereas patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis showed elevated P-selecitn prior to and following statin administration (all p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 3-day administration of atorvastatin reduces inflammation without decrease in C-reactive protein in VTE patients.
authors.affiliation: John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Żółciński
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cieśla-Dul
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Potaczek
authors.forename: Anetta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Undas
mesh_terms: D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007378:Interleukins; D019007:P-Selectin; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Inflammation; Statins; Venous thromboembolism