Atorvastatin decreases elevated soluble CD40L in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. Atorvastatin on inflammatory markers study: a substudy of ACTFAST

Blanco-Colio, L.M., Martín-Ventura, J.L., de Teresa, E., Farsang, C., Gaw, A., Gensini, G., Leiter, L.A., Langer, A., Martineau, P. and Egido, J. (2008) Atorvastatin decreases elevated soluble CD40L in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. Atorvastatin on inflammatory markers study: a substudy of ACTFAST. Kidney International, 74(Suppl.), S60-S63. (doi: 10.1038/ki.2008.514)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ki.2008.514

Abstract

The CD40/CD40 ligand plays a role in the inflammatory and prothrombotic processes in atherosclerosis. We analyzed whether short-term treatment with atorvastatin affects soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) plasma levels in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. sCD40L plasma concentrations were measured in 852 subjects from the Atorvastatin on Inflammatory Markers (AIM) Study, a 12-week prospective multicenter, open-label trial which enrolled statin-free subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD), CHD-equivalent (diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or cerebrovascular disease), or a 10-year CHD risk >20%. Subjects were assigned to atorvastatin (10-80 mg/day) based on LDL-C at screening. Overall, sCD40L levels were not different in patients at high cardiovascular risk compared with healthy subjects. When sCD40L levels were divided in quartiles, patients in the highest quartile (N = 213) had higher sCD40L concentrations than age-and gender-matched healthy subjects (N = 29) (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, all doses of atorvastatin significantly diminished sCD40L levels in subjects at the highest quartile. Furthermore, atorvastatin treatment decreased sCD40L more markedly in subjects with metabolic syndrome compared with those without metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, atorvastatin diminishes sCD40L plasma levels, more markedly so in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Our results indicate that short-term treatment with atorvastatin exhibits anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gaw, Dr Allan
Authors: Blanco-Colio, L.M., Martín-Ventura, J.L., de Teresa, E., Farsang, C., Gaw, A., Gensini, G., Leiter, L.A., Langer, A., Martineau, P., and Egido, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
Journal Name:Kidney International
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:0085-2538
ISSN (Online):1523-1755

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