Anti-inflammatory Effects of Statins in Patients with Aortic Stenosis. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther

Background: Aortic stenosis is an inflammatory process, as evidenced by increased tissue expression and serum levels of various endothelial cellular adhesion molecules. Aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis have many risk factors in common, including hypercholesterolemia. In ath-erosclerosis, statins lower cholesterol and display some anti-inflammatory activity. We hypoth-esized that statins might also have anti-inflammatory effects in patients with aortic stenosis. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study measured levels of cellular adhesion mol-ecules in 129 patients (88 male, mean age 68) with aortic stenosis (mean echo gradient 49 mm Hg, range 22 to 112) and compared levels in patients already on statin therapy for primary or secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, to those not on treatment. Concomitant con-ditions included hypertension (47%), diabetes (10%), and ischemic heart disease (54%). A comparison group consisted of 45 patients with stable ischemic heart disease. Results: Patients on statins (35) were more likely to have hypertension (62 % vs 42%, P =.05), but no significant differences existed in sex, age, concomitant ischemic heart disease, or diabetes. Statin-treated patients had a 20 % lower vascular cellular adhesion molecule level than those without (484 ± 143 ng/L vs 604 ± 245 ng/L, P =.006). The reduction in cellular adhesion molecule levels was consistent in patients with aortic stenosis alone, aortic stenosi