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