Effects of rosuvastatin on postprandial leukocytes in mildly hyperlipidemic patients with premature coronary sclerosis

Abstract

We investigated whether pro-inflammatory aspects of the postprandial phase can be modulated by rosuvastatin in premature coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Herefore standardized 8 h oral fat loading tests were performed off-treatment and after rosuvastatin 40 mg/d in 20 male CAD patients (50 +/- 4 years). The expression of leukocyte activation markers CD11a, CD11b, CD62L and CD66b was studied using flowcytometry. Migration of isolated neutrophils towards chemoattractants was determined in a fluorescence-based assay. Rosuvastatin did not affect baseline leukocyte counts nor the postprandial neutrophil increment (maximum mean increase +10% pre- and +14% post-treatment, P < 0.01 for each). Rosuvastatin reduced baseline platelets (from 266 +/- 78 to 225 +/- 74 x 10(9) cells/L, P < 0.001) and blunted the postprandial platelet count change (maximum mean increase +6%, P = 0.01, and 0%, respectively). The baseline expression of CD11a, CD11b and CD62L increased on most types of leukocytes by rosuvastatin, whereas the postprandial responses were unaffected. Pretreatment, postprandial neutrophil migration increased dose-dependently, but there were no postprandial changes after rosuvastatin. The latter effect was unrelated to changes in lipoprotein concentrations. In conclusion, in CAD patients postprandial pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant changes can be modified by rosuvastatin. These apparently lipid-lowering independent effects may render protection against atherosclerosis.