The effect of low-dose atorvastatin on circulating monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by hyperlipidemia

The effect of low-dose atorvastatin on various biomarkers was investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by hyperlipidemia. At 0 and 12 weeks in both the atorvastatin group (10 mg/d; n = 17) and the no-drug group (n = 10), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)–1, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)–1, and fibrinogen were measured. At baseline, the entire group of diabetic patients (n = 27) had significantly higher values of hsCRP and fibrinogen compared with those in age-matched healthy subjects (n = 29): 0.801 (0.306, 1.760) vs 0.282 (0.143, 0.6505) mg/L, P = .0042; 329.1 ± 55.0 vs 212.4 ± 35.9 mg/dL, P < .0001, respectively. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased significantly with atorvastatin treatment, from 0.801 (0.243, 1.865) to 0.308 (0.200, 0.804) mg/L ( P = .0191). Although MCP-1, PAI-1, and fibrinogen did not decrease in the atorvastatin patients overall, the decrease of MCP-1 was significant in women (n = 10; from 241.9 ± 45.8 to 215.4 ± 49.5 pg/mL, P = .0332). No correlation was found between changes in the serum lipid concentrations and changes in hsCRP, MCP-1, PAI-1, or fibrinogen in either the atorvastatin or the no-drug group. In conclusion, low-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/d) significantly decreased hsCRP in patients overall, and MCP-1 was also decreased in women. These findings suggest the possibility that atorvastatin provides an anti-inflammatory effect even at a low dose.