The effect of Atorvastatin on the levels of serum IL-6 、IL-8 and TNF-α in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of atorvastatin on the levels of serum IL-6、IL-8 and TNF-α in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods 120 patients with ACI were randomly divided into the atorvastatin therapy group(n = 60) and the conventional therapy group(n = 60).At the basis of conventional therapy,the Atorvatatin therapy group was treated with Atorvastatin 20mg/d.Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.The levels of serum IL-6 、IL-8 and TNF-α were measured before and after treatment.A healthy coatrol group which approximately matched the experimental group included 35 persons.Results The levels of serum IL-6 、IL-8 and TNF-α in ACI patients were higher than control group,(P＜0.05).No difference of IL-6、 IL-8 and TNF-α were found between the atorvastatin group and the control group before treatment(P＞0.05).Both two groups after 4 weeks treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment(all P＜0.05),and the level of serum IL-6 、IL-8 and TNF-α in Atorvastatin therapy group were significantly lower than that in conventional therapy group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The IL-6、 IL-8 and TNF-α played an important role in the pathogenesis of ACI.Atorvastatin could significantly decrease the level of serum IL-6 、IL-8 and TNF-α.Atorvastatin had anti-inflammatory effects and neuroprotection role. Key words: Brain infarction; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Atorvastatin