Atorvastatin treatment lowers fasting remnant-like particle cholesterol and LDL subfraction cholesterol without affecting LDL size in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Relevance for non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B guideline targets

Remnant cholesterol in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests a substantial contribution of remnant cholesterol (RC) to residual risk for the development or relapse of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to evaluate the association of RC levels with ASCVD risk by different risk categories and methods of RC assessment. We also assessed available evidence of the effects of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) on RC levels.

METHODS

English-language searches of Medline, PubMed, and Embase (inception to 31 January 2023); ClinicalTrials.gov (October 2022); and reference lists of studies and reviews. Studies reporting on the risk of the composite endpoint [all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE)] by RC levels were included. Moreover, we searched for studies reporting differences in RC levels after the administration of LLT(s).

RESULTS

Among n = 29 studies with 257,387 participants, we found a pooled linear (pooled HR: 1.27 per 1-SD increase, 95% CI: 1.12-1.43, P < 0.001, I2 = 95%, n = 15 studies) and non-linear association (pooled HR: 1.59 per quartile increase, 95% CI: 1.35-1.85, P < 0.001, I2 = 87.9%, n = 15 studies) of RC levels and the risk of M ACE both in patients with and without established ASCVD. Interestingly, the risk of MACE was higher in studies with directly measured vs. calculated RC levels. In a limited number of studies and participants, LLTs reduced RC levels.

CONCLUSION

RC levels are associated with ASCVD risk both in primary and secondary prevention. Directly measured RC levels are associated with ASCVD risk more evidently. Available LLTs tend to decrease RC levels, although the clinical relevance of RC decrease merits further investigation.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42022371346.

Effect of PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab on lipoprotein subfractions in familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (type III hyperlipidemia)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FDBL) is a rare inborn lipid disorder characterized by the formation of abnormal triglyceride- and cholesterol-rich lipoproteins (remnant particles). Patients with FDBL have a high risk for atherosclerotic disease. The effect of PCSK9 inhibition on lipoproteins and its subfractions has not been evaluated in FDBL.

METHODS

Three patients (65±7 years, 23±3 kg/m2, 2 females) with FDBL (diagnosed by isoelectrofocusing) and atherosclerosis (coronary and/or cerebro-vascular and/or peripheral arterial disease) resistant or intolerant to statin and fibrate therapy received evolocumab (140mg every 14 days). In addition to a fasting lipid profile (preparative ultracentrifugation), apoB and cholesterol concentrations were determined in 15 lipoprotein-subfractions (density gradient ultracentrifugation; d 1.006-1.21g/ml) before and after 12 weeks of evolocumab treatment. Patients with LDL-hypercholesterolemia (n = 8, 56±8 years, 31±7 kg/m2) and mixed hyperlipidemia (n = 5, 68±12 years, 30±1 kg/m2) also receiving evolocumab for 12 weeks were used for comparison.

RESULTS

All patients tolerated PCSK9 inhibition well. PCSK9 inhibitors reduced cholesterol (29-37%), non-HDL-cholesterol (36-50%) and apoB (40-52%) in all patient groups including FDBL. In FDBL, PCSK9 inhibition reduced VLDL-cholesterol and the concentration of apoB containing lipoproteins throughout the whole density spectrum (VLDL, IDL, remnants, LDL). Lipoprotein(a) was decreased in all patient groups to a similar extent.

CONCLUSIONS

This indicates that the dominant fraction of apoB-containing lipoproteins is reduced with PCSK9 inhibition, i.e. LDL in hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, and cholesterol-rich VLDL, remnants and LDL in FDBL. PCSK9 inhibition may be a treatment option in patients with FDBL resistant or intolerant to statin and/or fibrate therapy.

Remnant lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with incident new onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) in renal transplant recipients: results of the TransplantLines Biobank and cohort Studies

Background

New onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a frequent and serious complication of renal transplantation resulting in worse graft and patient outcomes. The pathophysiology of NODAT is incompletely understood, and no prospective biomarkers have been established to predict NODAT risk in renal transplant recipients (RTR). The present work aimed to determine whether remnant lipoprotein (RLP) cholesterol could serve as such a biomarker that would also provide a novel target for therapeutic intervention.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study included 480 RTR free of diabetes at baseline. 53 patients (11%) were diagnosed with NODAT during a median [interquartile range, IQR] follow-up of 5.2 [4.1–5.8] years. RLP cholesterol was calculated by subtracting HDL and LDL cholesterol from total cholesterol values (all directly measured).

Results

Baseline remnant cholesterol values were significantly higher in RTR who subsequently developed NODAT (0.9 [0.5–1.2] mmol/L vs. 0.6 [0.4–0.9] mmol/L, p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that higher RLP cholesterol values were associated with an increased risk of incident NODAT (log rank test, p < 0.001). Cox regression demonstrated a significant longitudinal association between baseline RLP cholesterol levels and NODAT (HR, 2.27 [1.64–3.14] per 1 SD increase, p < 0.001) that remained after adjusting for plasma glucose and HbA1c (p = 0.002), HDL and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.008) and use of immunosuppressive medication (p < 0.001), among others. Adding baseline remnant cholesterol to the Framingham Diabetes Risk Score significantly improved NODAT prediction (change in C-statistic, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that baseline RLP cholesterol levels strongly associate with incident NODAT independent of several other recognized risk factors.

Effect of atorvastatin on testosterone levels

BACKGROUND

Statins are one of the most prescribed classes of drugs worldwide. Atorvastatin, the most prescribed statin, is currently used to treat conditions such as hypercholesterolaemia and dyslipidaemia. By reducing the level of cholesterol, which is the precursor of the steroidogenesis pathway, atorvastatin may cause a reduction in levels of testosterone and other androgens. Testosterone and other androgens play important roles in biological functions. A potential reduction in androgen levels, caused by atorvastatin might cause negative effects in most settings. In contrast, in the setting of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), reducing excessive levels of androgens with atorvastatin could be beneficial.

OBJECTIVES

Primary objective To quantify the magnitude of the effect of atorvastatin on total testosterone in both males and females, compared to placebo or no treatment. Secondary objectives To quantify the magnitude of the effects of atorvastatin on free testosterone, sex hormone binding globin (SHBG), androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) concentrations, free androgen index (FAI), and withdrawal due to adverse effects (WDAEs) in both males and females, compared to placebo or no treatment.

SEARCH METHODS

The Cochrane Hypertension Information Specialist searched the following databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to 9 November 2020: the Cochrane Hypertension Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; Embase; ;two international trials registries, and the websites of the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Patent Office and the Pfizer pharmaceutical corporation. These searches had no language restrictions. We also contacted authors of relevant articles regarding further published and unpublished work.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs of daily atorvastatin for at least three weeks, compared with placebo or no treatment, and assessing change in testosterone levels in males or females.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened the citations, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. We used the mean difference (MD) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) to report the effect size of continuous outcomes,and the risk ratio (RR) to report effect sizes of the sole dichotomous outcome (WDAEs). We used a fixed-effect meta-analytic model to combine effect estimates across studies, and risk ratio to report effect size of the dichotomous outcomes. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included six RCTs involving 265 participants who completed the study and their data was reported. Participants in two of the studies were male with normal lipid profile or mild dyslipidaemia (N = 140); the mean age of participants was 68 years. Participants in four of the studies were female with PCOS (N = 125); the mean age of participants was 32 years. We found no significant difference in testosterone levels in males between atorvastatin and placebo, MD -0.20 nmol/L (95% CI -0.77 to 0.37). In females, atorvastatin may reduce total testosterone by -0.27 nmol/L (95% CI -0.50 to -0.04), FAI by -2.59 nmol/L (95% CI -3.62 to -1.57), androstenedione by -1.37 nmol/L (95% CI -2.26 to -0.49), and DHEAS by -0.63 μmol/l (95% CI -1.12 to -0.15). Furthermore, compared to placebo, atorvastatin increased SHBG concentrations in females by 3.11 nmol/L (95% CI 0.23 to 5.99). We identified no studies in healthy females (i.e. females with normal testosterone levels) or children (under age 18). Importantly, no study reported on free testosterone levels.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no significant difference between atorvastatin and placebo on the levels of total testosterone in males. In females with PCOS, atorvastatin lowered the total testosterone, FAI, androstenedione, and DHEAS. The certainty of evidence ranged from low to very low for both comparisons. More RCTs studying the effect of atorvastatin on testosterone are needed.

Statin Effects on Metabolic Profiles: Data From the PREVEND IT (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease Intervention Trial)

BACKGROUND

Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the metabolic pathway that produces cholesterol and other isoprenoids. Little is known about their effects on metabolite and lipoprotein subclass profiles. We, therefore, investigated the molecular changes associated with pravastatin treatment compared with placebo administration using a nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics platform.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed metabolic profiling of 231 lipoprotein and metabolite measures in the PREVEND IT (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease Intervention Trial) study, a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial designed to test the effects of pravastatin (40 mg once daily) on cardiovascular risk. Metabolic profiles were assessed at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Pravastatin lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (change in SD units [95% confidence interval]: -1.01 [-1.14, -0.88]), remnant cholesterol (change in SD units [95% confidence interval]: -1.03 [-1.17, -0.89]), and apolipoprotein B (change in SD units [95% confidence interval]: -0.98 [-1.11, -0.86]) with similar effect magnitudes. In addition, pravastatin globally lowered levels of lipoprotein subclasses, with the exception of high-density lipoprotein subclasses, which displayed a more heterogeneous response pattern. The lipid-lowering effect of pravastatin was accompanied by selective changes in lipid composition, particularly in the cholesterol content of very-low-density lipoproteinparticles. In addition, pravastatin reduced levels of several fatty acids but had limited effects on fatty acid ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

These randomized clinical trial data demonstrate the widespread effects of pravastatin treatment on lipoprotein subclass profiles and fatty acids.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03073018.

Binding interaction of atorvastatin with bovine serum albumin: Spectroscopic methods and molecular docking

The interaction of atorvastatin with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using multi-spectroscopic methods and molecular docking technique for providing important insight into further elucidating the store and transport process of atorvastatin in the body and the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics. The experimental results revealed that the fluorescence quenching mechanism of BSA induced atorvastatin was a combined dynamic and static quenching. The binding constant and number of binding site of atorvastatin with BSA under simulated physiological conditions (pH=7.4) were 1.41 × 10(5) M(-1) and about 1 at 310K, respectively. The values of the enthalpic change (ΔH(0)), entropic change (ΔS(0)) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG(0)) in the binding process of atorvastatin with BSA at 310K were negative, suggesting that the binding process of atorvastatin and BSA was spontaneous and the main interaction forces were van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding interaction. Moreover, atorvastatin was bound into the subdomain IIA (site I) of BSA, resulting in a slight change of the conformation of BSA.

Switching from atorvastatin to rosuvastatin lowers small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

This open-label, randomized, parallel-group comparative study compared the efficacy of rosuvastatin (5mg/day) and atorvastatin (10mg/day) for reduction of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd LDL-C) levels in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Patients with T2DM and hypercholesterolemia with detectable sd LDL-C after receiving 10mg/day atorvastatin for ≥ 24 weeks were randomly assigned to receive rosuvastatin (5mg/day; switched treatment) or atorvastatin (10mg/day; continued treatment) for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were changes in sd LDL-C levels and sd LDL-C/total LDL-C ratio evaluated using the LipoPhor AS(®) system.

RESULTS

There were no significant percent changes from baseline for LDL-C levels between the switched (n=55) and the continued treatment group (n=56). However, the former group exhibited a statistically significant reduction from baseline of sd LDL-C levels, sd LDL-C/total LDL-C ratio compared with the latter group (-3.8 mg/dL vs. -1.4 mg/dL, p=0.014; -2.3% vs. -0.6%, p=0.004, respectively). Multiple regression analysis among all subjects revealed that independent factors contributing to the reduction in sd LDL-C levels were a change in LDL-C (p=0.003) and triglyceride (TG) levels (p=0.006), treatment group (the switched group=1, the continued group=0; standard coefficient=-1.2, p=0.034) and baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p=0.045), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Switching from 10mg atorvastatin to 5mg rosuvastatin may be a useful therapeutic option to reduce sd LDL-C levels in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients with T2DM.

Atherogenic Lipoprotein Subfractions Determined by Ion Mobility and First Cardiovascular Events After Random Allocation to High-Intensity Statin or Placebo: The Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) Trial

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can occur in individuals with low low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C). We investigated whether detailed measures of LDL subfractions and other lipoproteins can be used to assess CVD risk in a population with both low LDL-C and high C-reactive protein who were randomized to high-intensity statin or placebo.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 11 186 Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) participants, we tested whether lipids, apolipoproteins, and ion mobility-measured particle concentrations at baseline and after random allocation to rosuvastatin 20 mg/d or placebo were associated with first CVD events (n=307) or CVD/all-cause death (n=522). In placebo-allocated participants, baseline LDL-C was not associated with CVD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] per SD, 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.21). In contrast, associations with CVD events were observed for baseline non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.38), apolipoprotein B (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.11-1.48), and ion mobility-measured non-HDL particles (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.05-1.35) and LDL particles (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.07-1.37). Association with CVD events was also observed for several LDL and very-low-density lipoprotein subfractions but not for ion mobility-measured HDL subfractions. In statin-allocated participants, CVD events were associated with on-treatment LDL-C, non-HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B; these were also associated with CVD/all-cause death, as were several LDL and very-low-density lipoprotein subfractions, albeit with a pattern of association that differed from the baseline risk.

CONCLUSIONS

In JUPITER, baseline LDL-C was not associated with CVD events, in contrast with significant associations for non-HDL cholesterol and atherogenic particles: apolipoprotein B and ion mobility-measured non-HDL particles, LDL particles, and select subfractions of very-low-density lipoprotein particles and LDL particles. During high-intensity statin therapy, on-treatment levels of LDL-C and atherogenic particles were associated with residual risk of CVD/all-cause death.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00239681.

Apolipoprotein B attenuates albuminuria-associated cardiovascular disease in prevention of renal and vascular endstage disease (PREVEND) participants

Whether urinary albumin excretion relates to higher levels of atherogenic apolipoprotein B fractions in the nondiabetic population is uncertain. Such a relationship could explain, in part, the association of elevated urinary albumin excretion with cardiovascular disease risk. We assessed the relationship of urinary albumin excretion with apolipoprotein B fractions and determined whether the association of elevated urinary albumin excretion with incident cardiovascular events is modified by high apolipoprotein B fraction levels. We performed a prospective study on 8286 nondiabetic participants (580 participants with cardiovascular disease; 4.9 years median follow-up time) with fasting lipids, apolipoprotein B, and urinary albumin excretion determined at baseline. With adjustment for sex and age, micro- and macroalbuminuria were associated with increased apolipoprotein B fractions (non-HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B). All four apolipoprotein B fractions modified associations of urinary albumin excretion with incident cardiovascular disease (hazard ratios for interaction terms ranged from 0.89 to 0.94 with 95% confidence intervals ranging from 0.84 to 0.99 and P values ranging from 0.001 to 0.02 by Cox proportional hazards modeling). These interactions remained present after additional adjustment for conventional risk factors, eGFR, cardiovascular history, and lipid-lowering and antihypertensive drug treatments. Such modification was also observed when urinary albumin excretion was stratified into normo-, micro-, and macroalbuminuria. We conclude that there is an association between elevated urinary albumin excretion and apolipoprotein B fraction levels and a negative interaction between these variables in their associations with incident cardiovascular events. Elevated urinary albumin excretion may share common causal pathways with high apolipoprotein B fractions in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

Changes in lipoprotein particle number with ezetimibe/simvastatin coadministered with extended-release niacin in hyperlipidemic patients

Background

Combination therapy with ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) and extended‐release niacin (N) has been reported to be safe and efficacious in concomitantly reducing low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and increasing high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in hyperlipidemic patients at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. This analysis evaluated the effect of E/S coadministered with N on low‐density lipoprotein particle number (LDL‐P) and high‐density lipoprotein particle number (HDL‐P) as assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in patients with type IIa or IIb hyperlipidemia.

Methods and Results

This was an analysis of a previously reported 24‐week randomized, double‐blind study in type IIa/IIb hyperlipidemic patients randomized to treatment with E/S (10/20 mg/day)+N (titrated to 2 g/day) or N (titrated to 2 g/day) or E/S (10/20 mg/day). Samples from a subset of patients (577 of 1220) were available for post hoc analysis of LDL‐P and HDL‐P by NMR spectroscopy. Increases in HDL‐P (+16.2%) and decreases in LDL‐P (−47.7%) were significantly greater with E/S+N compared with N (+9.8% for HDL‐P and −21.5% for LDL‐P) and E/S (+12.8% for HDL‐P and −36.8% for LDL‐P). In tertile analyses, those with the lowest baseline HDL‐P had the greatest percent increase in HDL‐P (N, 18.4/7.9/2.1; E/S, 19.3/12.2/5.3; and E/S+N, 26.9/13.8/6.9; all P<0.001). Individuals in the highest tertile of LDL‐P had the greatest percent reduction in LDL‐P (N, 18.3/23.1/24.6; E/S, 29.7/38.3/41.8; and E/S+N, 44.3/49.0/50.5; all P<0.001).

Conclusions

These results suggest that E/S+N improves lipoprotein particle number, consistent with its lipid‐modifying benefits in type IIa or IIb hyperlipidemia patients and may exert the greatest effect in those with high LDL‐P and low HDL‐P at baseline.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00271817

Effects of the PPAR-δ agonist MBX-8025 on atherogenic dyslipidemia

OBJECTIVE

Determine the effects of treatment with a selective PPAR-δ agonist±statin on plasma lipoprotein subfractions in dyslipidemic individuals.

METHODS

Ion mobility analysis was used to measure plasma concentrations of subfractions of the full spectrum of lipoprotein particles in 166 overweight or obese dyslipidemic individuals treated with the PPAR-δ agonist MBX-8025 (50 and 100 mg/d)±atorvastatin (20 mg/d) in an 8-week randomized parallel arm double blind placebo controlled trial.

RESULTS

MBX-8025 at both doses resulted in reductions of small plus very small LDL particles and increased levels of large LDL, with a concomitant reduction in large VLDL, and an increase in LDL peak diameter. This translated to reversal of the small dense LDL phenotype (LDL pattern B) in ∼90% of the participants. Modest increases in HDL particles were confined to the smaller HDL fractions. Atorvastatin monotherapy resulted in reductions in particles across the VLDL-IDL-LDL spectrum, with a significantly smaller reduction in small and very small LDL vs. MBX-8025 100 mg/d (-24.5±5.3% vs. -47.8±4.9%), and, in combination with MBX-8025, a reversal of the increase in large LDL.

CONCLUSION

PPAR-δ and statin therapies have complementary effects in improving lipoprotein subfractions associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Clinical applications of advanced lipoprotein testing in diabetes mellitus

Traditional lipid profiles often fail to fully explain the elevated cardiovascular risk of individuals with diabetes mellitus. Advanced lipoprotein testing offers a novel means to evaluate dyslipidemia and refine risk estimation. Numerous observational studies have demonstrated a characteristic pattern of elevated levels of small, dense LDL particles, out of proportion to traditional lipid levels, in patients with both diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome. Commonly used glucose and lipid-lowering agents have varied effects in patients with diabetes on both LDL and HDL subfractions. The exact role of advanced lipoprotein testing in patients with diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome remains unclear but may offer improved assessment of cardiovascular risk compared with traditional lipid measurements.

Effect of increasing doses of Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin on apolipoproteins, enzymes and lipid transfer proteins involved in lipoprotein metabolism and inflammatory parameters

This paper contains detailed results of a sub-population of the prospective randomized RADAR (Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin in different Dosages And Reverse cholesterol transport) study.

OBJECTIVE

Statin treatment results in substantially decreased incidence of cardiovascular events but the exact pathophysiological mechanism of their beneficial effect is yet unclear. We aimed to examine the effects of up-titrated doses of two widely used statins (atorvastatin (ATOR) and rosuvastatin (ROSU)) on parameters involved in lipoprotein metabolism, in patients with low high density lipoprotein cholesterol values (HDL-C).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this RADAR substudy, 80 patients, aged 40-80 years, with known cardiovascular disease and low HDL-C (<1.0 mmol/l), were randomized to receive, after an initial 6 week dietary run-in phase, either ATOR 20 mg (n = 41) or ROSU 10 mg (n = 39). The doses were up-titrated (in 6 week intervals) to 80 mg of ATOR or 40 mg of ROSU at 12 weeks. Serum lipoproteins and lipoprotein metabolism parameters were measured at baseline and at 6 and 18 weeks of follow up.

RESULTS

Both statins significantly reduced total cholesterol (TChol) and non-HDL-C values with ROSU being more effective for the doses studied (p < 0.05). No statistically significant effect on HDL-C was observed for either statin. Apolipoproteins (apo) B, CI, CIII, AV and E were significantly reduced in both groups (p < 0.05), while the ratio of HDL particles containing both apoAI and apoAII (LpAI-AII) over HDL containing apoAI alone (LpAI) was changed for both statins with the decrease of LpAI being more prominent in the ATOR group (p = 0.028). Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) mass and activity, phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass and activity were all significantly reduced in both treatment groups over the follow-up period (p < 0.001). ATOR displayed a more prominent decrease of PLTP activity compared to ROSU (p = 0.043), while ROSU displayed a more prominent decrease of Lp-PLA2 activity compared to ATOR (p = 0.04). Both statins effectively reduced, in a dose-dependent way, high sensitivity C-reactive protein values over time, while no effect on the levels of circulating inter cellular adhesion molecule 1 (cICAM-1) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of statin treatment extend further and beyond a mere TChol and LDL cholesterol reduction, as demonstrated by the aforementioned alterations of lipoproteins, enzymes and lipid transfer proteins involved in lipoprotein metabolism and pro-atherogenic and inflammatory molecules. ROSU and ATOR displayed a similar pattern of effect on lipid metabolism with discrete differences in the magnitude of this effect in certain variables. Despite the limitations of small population size and lack of clinical end points, reported data provide an insight for the possible pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in the effect of increasing dosages of different statin treatments.