Beneficial effects of statins on adropin level in patients with arterial hypertension

Abstract

Introduction. Adropin is a new secretory hormone that takes part in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Hormone is known to have positive effects on endothelial cell proliferation and prevention of atherosclerosis, and low adropin level may be a risk factor and potential predictor of atherosclerosis. Arterial hypertension (AH), which remains one of the most common somatic pathologies among middle-aged and older people, plays an important role in predicting cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A number of medications that are used as antihypertensive therapy contribute to an increase in the content of adropin. At the same time there are not enough studies on the effect of statins on the content of adropin.
 Aim of the study.To investigate the effects of statins on adropin level in patients with AH.
 Material and methods. 70 patients with hypertension aged 62,1 ± 9,9 years were examined. They were divided into 2 groups: 1 group – patients with AH, overweight and obesity who did not take statins (n=40); group 2 – persons with AH, overweight and obesity who took statins (n=30). All individuals underwent determination of basic indicators of biochemical blood analysis, lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides (TG), atherogenicity ratio). The level of adropin was determined by enzyme immunoassay (Finetest Elisa Kit) in blood serum.
 Results. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was significantly higher in group 1 individuals (p<0.05), while diastolic BP remained unchanged (p>0.05). Among patients who took statins, a significantly lower level of TC, LDL, atherogenicity ratio (p<0.01), HDL (p<0.05) was found, while the level of TG remained unchanged.
 Taking statins and achieving the target level of LDL improves the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular pathology, as evidenced by a significant increase in the content of adropin in blood serum in patients of the 2nd group. In women who took statins, a direct correlation was found between the level of adropin and HDL (r=0.609; p<0.05).
 Conclusions. Taking statins is associated with significantly higher levels of adropin in patients with AH compared to individuals who did not take these drugs. A direct correlation was noted between the level of adropin and HDL in women who took statins. Statins effectively reduce atherogenic fractions of cholesterol and help to increase the concentration of adropin in blood serum.