Effect of statin therapy on dynamics of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor in patients with ischemic heart disease

The aim of our study was to assess the influence of rosuvastatin on coronary angiogenesis. 30 male patients with chronic coronary heart disease and total cholesterol level > 5.2 mmol/I were treated with rosuvastatin 10 mg daily during 3 months. The serum level of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDIL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides JG) as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were measured initially and in 3 months. There was the significant decreasing of TC, LDL-C and TG concentrations. IL-6 and CRP serum levels were also decreased after rosuvastatin therapy. Three months of treatment resulted to significant decrease of VEGF with no changes of bFGF levels. The correlation was not found between CRP and VEGF levels and between IL-6 and VEGF levels. Also there was no correlation between the degree of decreasing CRP and VEGF, and IL-6 and VEGF. So we have shown significant decreasing of VEGF serum levels on rosuvastatin therapy. It could be possible mechanism of plaque stabilization in patients with coronary heart disease.