title: The effects of atorvastatin on antioxidant/antiinflammatory properties of HDLs in hypercholesterolemics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by changes in lipid profile, nitric oxide pathway, and oxidative stress markers, but functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were not well established in hypercholesterolemic subjects treated with atorvastatin. In this study, we aimed to evaluate effects of atorvastatin treatment on functionality of HDL, oxidative stress, and endothelial functions in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients (20 females, 10 males) aged from 40 to 60 years and diagnosed as hypercholesterolemic were included. Patients were treated with 10 mg/day atorvastatin for 3 months. Markers of endothelial functions, namely asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), homocysteine, and nitric oxide (NO), and markers of oxidative status, namely malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant potential (AOP), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), and arylesterase, were measured. Before and after atorvastatin treatment, glucose, lipid parameters, and antioxidant/antiinflammatory HDL levels were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADMA and homocysteine levels were decreased whereas NO levels were increased with atorvastatin therapy. MDA levels were decreased but AOP, PON1, and arylesterase levels and antinflammatory characteristics of HDLs were increased. Furthermore, lipid profiles of the patients improved with atorvastatin therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypercholesterolemia is a cause of oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and proinflammatory HDL levels. Atorvastatin is a beneficial pharmacological modulator of impaired antiinflammatory HDL-C levels, endothelial functions, and oxidative status against atherosclerosis indicating pleiotropic effects of statins.
authors.forename: Gülşen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akalin Çiftçi
authors.forename: İpek
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Ertorun
authors.forename: Aysen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akalin
authors.forename: İbrahim Özkan
authors.initials: İÖ
authors.lastname: Alataş
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musmul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D011758:Pyrroles; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D000069059:Atorvastatin