Influence of atorvastatin on serum amyloid A-low density lipoprotein complex in hypercholesterolemic patients

The complex of serum amyloid a(saa) and low-density lipoprotein (ldl),saa-ldl,is considered a new and unique marker of oxidatively-modified ldl particles,which is associated with atherosclerotic conditions. this study investigated the influence of atorvastatin treatment on circulating saa-ldl levels among asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic patients. a total of 26 patients (mean age 63 years) received 10 mg/daily atorvastatin during a 12-week treatment period. the levels of ldl cholesterol and saa-ldl,but not high-sensitivity c-reactive protein and saa,were significantly reduced after the treatment. stepwise adjusted regression analyses revealed that changes of saa-ldl were significantly and positively correlated with those of saa,while absolute changes were small,which warrants further investigation. the results suggest that atorvastatin may beneficially reduce saa-ldl,and saa-ldl may be a sensitive measure for monitoring the efficacy and antioxidant functions of atorvastatin. copyright © 2012 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.