Effects of statins on proinflammatory/prothrombotic biomarkers and on disease activity scores in SLE patients: data from LUMINA (LXXVI), a multi-ethnic US cohort.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the effect of statin therapy on the levels of proinflammatory/prothrombotic markers and disease activity scores in patients with SLE in a multi-ethnic, multi-centre cohort (LUMINA). METHODS: Plasma/serum samples from SLE patients placed on statins (n=21) therapy taken before and after at least 6 months of treatment were tested. Disease activity was assessed using SLAM-R scores. Interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels were determined by a multiplex immunoassay. Soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies were evaluated using ELISA assays while high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was assessed by nephelometry. Plasma/serum samples from frequency- matched healthy donors were used as controls. RESULTS: Levels of IL-6, VEGF, sCD40L and TNF-α were significantly elevated in SLE patients versus controls. Statin therapy resulted in a significant decrease in SLAM-R scores (p=0.0199) but no significant changes in biomarker levels were observed. There was no significant association of biomarkers with SLAM-R scores. CONCLUSIONS: Statin therapy resulted in significant clinical improvement in SLE patients, underscoring the use of statins in the treatment of SLE.