Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (23): 2144-2154.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.23.004

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Anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic effects of atorvastatin in acute ischemic stroke

Lianqiu Min1, Shuai Shao2, Xiaoning Wu1, Lin Cong3, Ping Liu4, Haiping Zhao4, Yumin Luo4   

  1. 1 Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning Province, China
    2 Department of Neurology, Liaoyang Central Hospital, Liaoyang 111000, Liaoning Province, China
    3 Department of Neurology, Fuxin No.2 People’s Hospital, Fuxin 123000, Liaoning Province, China
    4 Research Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
  • Received:2013-03-07 Revised:2013-06-09 Online:2013-08-15 Published:2013-08-15
  • Contact: Lianqiu Min, Master, Professor, Chief physician, Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning Province, China, minlianqiu@163.com.
  • Supported by:

    辽宁省科学自然基金 (No.20092192)，国家自然科学基金 (No.81071058)

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Abstract:

Atorvastatin decreases inflammation and thrombogenesis in patients with carotid artery plaque. Atorvastatin is administered to lower lipid levels, but its anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic effects remain unclear. Eighty-nine patients from northeastern China with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis were randomly divided into the study and control groups. All patients received routine treatment, including antiplatelet therapy, circulatory support, and symp-tomatic treatment. The study group (n = 43) also received daily atorvastatin 20 mg/d, and the control group (n = 46) received daily placebo pills containing glucose. After 4 weeks, the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Decreases in the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were not associated with de-creases in the levels of triacylglycerol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results suggest that atorvastatin reduces inflammation and thrombogenesis independent of its lipid-lowering effects in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis.

Key words: neural regeneration, brain injury, ischemic stroke, large-artery atherosclerosis, atorvastatin, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, D-dimer, inflammation, thrombus, triacylglycerol, low-density lipo-protein cholesterol, grants-supported paper, neuroregeneration