J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2004 Oct;22(5):453-458.

Statin Reduced the Platelet CD63 and CD40L Expression in Atherosclerotic Ischemic Stroke with Hyperlipidemia

• Lee KM
• Cho WS
• Jeong MH
• Lim YJ
• Park KS
• Cha JK

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Statin (HMG-coA-reductase inhibitor) has been known to protect vessels from atherothrombosis through various mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the effects of statin on reducing the platelet expressions of CD63 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) in subjects with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (17 men, 4 women; mean age 59.0 +/- 10.2 years) with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke were recruited. They took simvastatin 20 mg per day for 90 days and discontinued for another 90 days. We studied the changes of platelet expressions of CD63 and CD40L in all the patients after the use and discontinuance of simvastatin using whole blood flow cytometry. RESULTS: After taking simvastatin 20mg for 90 days, the serum concentrations of LDL cholesterol decreased significantly (96.4 +/- 31.4 mg/dL, p<0.001) compared with those at the baseline (158.8 +/- 25.0 mg/dL). The platelet CD63 and C40L expressions were also significantly reduced by treatment of simvastatin 20 mg for 12 weeks (p<0.05). However, the effects of statin on CD63 and CD40L expressions disappeared after 12 weeks of cessation. Furthermore, changes of expressions of CD63 and CD40L by statin did not correlate with its cholesterol lowering effect (r=-0.311, p=0.386). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the use of statin may be a helpful strategy to regulate the platelet activation in patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke.

Keyword

Statin; Blood Platelet; Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Blood Platelets*
CD40 Ligand*
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Female
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors*
Hyperlipidemias*
Inflammation
Male
Platelet Activation
Simvastatin
Stroke*
CD40 Ligand
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Simvastatin