Comparative study of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on fibrinogen

Statins have a variable response on fibrinogen, and these changes may have implications on cardiovascular events. In this randomized placebo-controlle d crossover study, we evaluated whether changes in fibrinogen levels were d ifferent between atorvastatin and other statin-treated patients. Adult coro nary heart disease (CHD) patients aged 39-83 years with LDL cholesterol lev els greater than or equal to 130 mg/dl were randomized to atorvastatin 80 m g (n = 84) and one of the following statins: fluvastatin 80 mg (n = 23), lo vastatin 80 mg (n = 20), pravastatin 40 mg (n = 12) or simvastatin 40 mg (n = 20) each for 12 weeks in either order. Fibrinogen was analyzed by an aut omated method of Clauss. Three independently acquired samples were obtained within 1 min of tourniquet application. and each specimen was measured in duplicate. Statistical analyses were performed using a mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance procedure with SAS version 6.12. There were Ilo significant changes in fibrinogen between treatment groups. This study evaluated changes in fibrinogen with established pre-analytical and analyti cal procedures known to minimize variability in fibrinogen measurement, and we did not observe any differences in fibrinogen levels in the treatment g roups. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.