Effect of Pravastatin® on Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Systems in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increased incidence of vascular complications. In order to assess the actual degree of activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in hypercholesterolemia, plasma levels of molecular markers were mesured in 43 patients with hypercholesterolemia. Mean plasma levels thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAT-1) were significantly elevated in hypercholestrolemia as compared with healthy subjects. These findings indicated hypercoagulable state in hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of pravastatin on plasma lipid, lipoprotein (a) and molecular markers of coagulation system. Pravastatin (10mg/day) was added to 22 patients with hypercholesterolemia whose plasma concentration of total cholesterol was more than 300mg/dl. The mean concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid were significantly decreased after treatment. Lipoprotein (a) was not decreased. On the other hand, TAT, FPA, and PAT-1 were significantly decreased. This study suggested that pravastatin may have a preventive effect for the hypercoagulable state by improving hypercholesterolemia.