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. 2014 Oct;6(5):354-61.
doi: 10.14740/jocmr1863w. Epub 2014 Jul 28.

Effect of statins on endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a prospective study using adhesion molecules and flow-mediated dilatation

Ibrahim Altun  1 , Fahrettin Oz  1 , Selda Can Arkaya  2 , Ilknur Altun  3 , Ahmet Kaya Bilge  1 , Berrin Umman  1 , Umit Mutlu Turkoglu  2
Affiliations

Effect of statins on endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a prospective study using adhesion molecules and flow-mediated dilatation

Ibrahim Altun et al. J Clin Med Res. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms play a central role in the development, progression and outcome of atherosclerosis. Recent evidence suggests that statins improve anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and endothelial functions, along with their lipid-decreasing effects. We examined the effect of statins on endothelial function using biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD).

Methods: Thirty male patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 26 age-matched healthy control subjects aged 40 - 60 years who were not on any medication were enrolled in the study. The patient group was started on atorvastatin (40 mg/day) without consideration of their low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels. Endothelin, sICAM and E-selectin from stored serum samples were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs). Endothelial function was assessed using brachial artery FMD.

Results: Prior to statin treatment, E-selectin, sICAM and endothelin levels, endothelial dysfunction markers, were 99.74 ± 34.67 ng/mL, 568.8 ± 149.0 ng/mL and 0.62 ± 0.33 fmol/mL, respectively in the patient group. E-selectin and sICAM levels were significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.001); however, endothelin levels were not significantly different between groups. Statin treatment significantly reduced E-selectin and sICAM levels (P < 0.001); however, the decrease in endothelin levels was not statistically significant. %FMD values were significantly increased after statin treatment (P = 0.005), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker, were significantly reduced.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that statins play an important role in treatment endothelial dysfunction by reducing adhesion of inflammatory cells.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Adhesion molecules; Flow-mediated dilatation; Statins; Ultrasonography.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Correlations between %FMD and E-selectin and sICAM-1 levels in patients before and after treatment (mean ± SD).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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