The effects of atorvastatin treatment on the mean platelet volume and red cell distribution width in patients with dyslipoproteinemia and comparison with plasma atherogenicity indicators--A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) have recently arisen interest because of their association with an increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of our study was, therefore, to determine whether an association exists between MPV, RDW and lipoprotein sub-fractions, and to show the impact of statin therapy on these new possible biomarkers of atherosclerotic risk.


METHODS
A cohort of 40 patients with hypercholesterolaemia (29 females, mean age 62.9±9 years), without previous hypolipidaemic treatment were enrolled. The patients were treated with atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 12 weeks. Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), LDL-C sub-fractions [large LDL-C 1-2 and small dense (sd)-LDL-C 3-7], apolipoproteins (apoA1, apoB), apoB/apoA1 ratio, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), haematological parameters (including MPV, RDW) and safety parameters (renal, hepatic) were measured before and after 12 weeks of atorvastatin treatment.


RESULTS
At baseline, a strong correlation between HDL-C, TG, sd-LDL-C, apoB, apoB/apoA1, and AIP with MPV (r=-0.55, p<0.001; r=0.57, p<0.001; r=0.73, p<0.001; r=0.41, p<0.05; r=0.52, p<0.001; r=0.61, p<0.001, respectively) and RDW (r=-0.49, p<0.001; r=0.62, p<0.001; r=0.67, p<0.001; r=0.41, p<0.05; r=0.43, p<0.05; r=0.65, p<0.001, respectively) was found. After 12 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin, MPV and RDW values underwent significant modification only in those patients displaying the strongest lipid-lowering effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Values of MPV and RDW seem to reflect a pro-atherogenic lipoprotein profile mainly represented by the presence of sd-LDL-C.
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Marek
M
Kucera
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
David
D
Balaz
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: peter.kruzliak@savba.sk.
Peter
P
Kruzliak
Clinica Medica I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Italy.
Rachele
R
Ciccocioppo
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Stanislav
S
Oravec
Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Luis
L
Rodrigo
The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention & Management (CCDPM), Western CHRE, Victoria University, St Albans, Australia.
Anthony
A
Zulli
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Eva
E
Hirnerova
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Peter
P
Sabaka
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Andrea
A
Komornikova
Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Jan
J
Sabo
Department of Simulation and Virtual Medical Education, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Peter
P
Slezak
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: ludovitgaspar@gmail.com.
Ludovit
L
Gaspar
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063847:Mean Platelet Volume; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
C505693:APOA1 protein, human; C569471:APOB protein, human; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D000069059:Atorvastatin
Atherogenic dyslipidaemia; Atorvastatin; Dense LDL; Mean platelet volume; Red cell distribution width; Small