title: Plasma VEGF and IL-8 Levels in Patients with Mixed Dyslipidaemia. Effect of Rosuvastatin Monotherapy or its Combination at a Lower Dose with Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Hypercholesterolaemia is associated with increased plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). We studied the effect of rosuvastatin monotherapy or its combination at a lower dose with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in the VEGF and IL-8 plasma levels in patients with mixed dyslipidaemia.
  
  
  
  Fifty patients with mixed dyslipidaemia were recruited. Fifty-five normolipidaemic, apparently healthy, ageand sex- matched subjects acted as controls. Patients were randomized to 40 mg/day rosuvastatin (R group, n=26) or 10 mg/day rosuvastatin plus 2 g/day of ω-3 PUFAs (R+O group, n=24). The levels of VEGF and IL-8 in plasma, were assessed at baseline and 3 months post-treatment.
  
  
  
  At baseline, both plasma VEGF and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the R and R+O groups compared with controls (p<0.04, p<0.03 and p<0.02, p<0.03, respectively). Post-treatment levels of VEGF were decreased in the R group while a significant increase was observed in the R+O group, compared with baseline levels (p<0.02 and p<0.03, respectively). Post-treatment IL-8 levels were decreased in both R and R+O groups (p<0.03 and p<0.04, respectively).
  
  
  
  We show for the first time that either rosuvastatin monotherapy or its combination at a lower dose with ω-3 PUFAs reduces IL-8 levels in mixed dyslipidaemic patients. High-dose rosuvastatin monotherapy reduces VEGF values, whereas a significant increase is observed in patients receiving lower dose rosuvastatin with ω-3 PUFAs. The clinical significance of the above findings regarding cardiovascular risk remains to be established.
authors.forename: Vasileios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Chantzichristos
authors.forename: Aris P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Agouridis
authors.forename: Elisavet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moutzouri
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stellos
authors.forename: Moses S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elisaf
authors.affiliation: Atherothrombosis Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. atselep@uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Alexandros D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tselepis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008055:Lipids; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor