EFFECTS OF AN EIGHT-WEEK ATORVASTATIN TREATMENT ON SPONTANEOUS CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY THE BLOOD MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN METABOLIC SYNDROME

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess effects of the eight-week course of atorvastatin therapy upon the levels of spontaneous cytokine production by mononuclear blood leukocytes (MNBC) in metabolic syndrome. An open-label prospective study included 36 patients with stage II hypertension (blood pressure < 180/110 mm Hg.) accomplished by metabolic syndrome. Along with clinical surveys performed at a specialized cardiological clinics, we assessed spontaneous cytokine production by MNBC during treatment with atorvastatin. It was shown that the 8-week treatment of these patients with atorvaststin, at individually matched daily doses (20 to 40 mg) was associated with reduced serum concentration of acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein and neopterin), as well as decreased spontaneous production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα) by MNBCs. The latter finding is of great importance for pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome.