Effect of monthly atorvastatin treatment on hemostasis

Apart from lowering lipid levels, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) produce many other favorable effects that contribute to their clinical efficacy in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 30-day atorvastatin treatment on major hemostatic risk factors (fibrinogen, PAI-1 levels, factor VII coagulant activity) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. We studied 18 hypercholesterolemic patients and 12 matched control subjects. Compared to the control subjects, hypercholesterolemic patients exhibited increased plasma PAI-1 levels and factor VII activity. Atorvastatin (20 mg/d) not only decreased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and oxidized LDL, but also reduced PAI-1 levels and factor VII activity and tended to decrease fibrinogen levels. The hemostatic effects of atorvastatin did not correlate with its lipid-lowering potential. Our study is the first to show that atorvastatin may exhibit a quick, beneficial and multidirectional non-lipid-related effect on hemostasis.