title: The impact of statin therapy on plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.
abstract: Increased plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) are associated with high risk of coronary artery disease. The effect of statin therapy on vWF:Ag levels remains uncertain. Therefore the aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of statin therapy on vWF:Ag Levels. A systematic multiple-database search was carried out to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of statins on plasma vWF:Ag levels. Random-effect meta-analysis of 21 treatment arms revealed a significant decrease in plasma vWF:Ag levels following statin therapy (SMD: -0.54, 95 %CI: -0.87, -0.21, p=0.001). In subgroup analyses, the greatest effect was observed with simvastatin (SMD: -1.54, 95 %CI: -2.92, -0.17, p=0.028) and pravastatin (SMD: -0.61, 95 %CI: -1.18, -0.04, p=0.035), but not with fluvastatin (SMD: -0.34, 95 %CI: -0.69, 0.02, p=0.065), atorvastatin (SMD: -0.23, 95 %CI: -0.57, 0.11, p=0.179) and rosuvastatin (SMD: -0.20, 95 % CI: -0.71, 0.30, p=0.431). The lowering effect of statins on plasma vWF:Ag levels was greater in the subset of studies lasting ≥ 12 weeks (SMD: -0.70, 95 %CI: -1.19, -0.22, p=0.005) compared with that of studies lasting < 12 weeks (SMD: -0.34, 95 %CI: -0.67, 0.003, p=0.052). Finally, low-intensity statin therapy was not associated with a significant reduction in vWF:Ag levels (SMD: -0.28, 95 %CI: -0.82, 0.27, p=0.320), but a significant effect was observed in high-intensity statin trials (SMD: -0.66, 95 %CI: -1.07, -0.24, p=0.002). This meta-analysis of available RCTs demonstrates a significant reduction in plasma vWF:Ag levels following statin therapy.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ursoniu
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Anetta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Undas
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.forename: Kausik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Gerald F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: G Kees
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Hovingh
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rysz
authors.forename: John J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kastelein
authors.affiliation: Prof. Maciej Banach, MD, PhD, FNLA, FAHA, FESC; FASA, Department of Hypertension, WAM University Hospital in Lodz, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113, 90-549 Lodz, Poland, Tel.: +48 42 639 37 71, Fax: +48 42 639 37 71, E-mail: maciejbanach@aol.co.uk.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin
keywords: atherosclerosis; cardiovascular diseases; statins; thrombosis; von Willebrand Antigen