RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Elevated fibrinogen levels are considered a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and might be used as a predictor of risk for the development of atherothrombotic events. Several studies have reached equivocal conclusions regarding the effect of statins on fibrinogen. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia and no other risk factors. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels above 170 mg/dl (4.40 mmol/L) and with no other risk factors were included in the study. None of the patients had ever received hypolipidemic medication. Patients were followed for 24 weeks (6 office visits 4 weeks apart). During office visits, lipid profile, complete blood count, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels were measured. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of follow-up, total cholesterol decreased by 33% (287 +/- 10 to 192 +/- 8 mg/dl, P < 0.001), LDL-C by 45% (198 +/- 8 to 111 +/- 7 mg/dl, P < 0.001) and triglycerides by 21% (189 +/- 26 to 138 +/- 15 mg/dl, P < 0.001). Fibrinogen levels dropped by 18% (355 +/- 26 to 275 +/- 7 mg/dl, P = 0.01). CRP levels decreased from 0.51 +/- 0.15 to 0.28 +/- 0.10 mg/dl, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.09). High density lipoprotein, hemoglobin, white blood cell and platelet counts did not change. CONCLUSIONS: We found that atorvastatin reduces plasma fibrinogen in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
