Efficacy of simvastatin on carotid atherosclerotic plaque and its effects on serum inflammatory factors and cardiocerebrovascular events in elderly patients

Zhang,Huali; Jiang,Min; Hou,Hong; Li,Qin

doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10251

Efficacy of simvastatin on carotid atherosclerotic plaque and its effects on serum inflammatory factors and cardiocerebrovascular events in elderly patients

Authors:
- Huali Zhang
- Min Jiang
- Hong Hou
- Qin Li
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Affiliations: Department of Geriatrics, Gansu Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, P.R. China, Department of Nephropathy, People's Hospital of Wuwei, Wuwei, Gansu 733000, P.R. China, ECG Room, Xi'an no. 3 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710008, P.R. China, Department of Geriatrics, Baoji City People's Hospital, Baoji, Shaanxi 721000, P.R. China
Published online on: June 2, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10251
Article Number: 819
Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of simvastatin on carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) and its effects on serum inflammatory factors and cardiocerebrovascular events in elderly patients, 130 elderly patients with CAP were randomly divided into observation (n=65) and control groups (n=65). The control group was treated with 75 mg/day aspirin enteric‑coated tablets, and the observation group was administered additional 20 mg/day simvastatin. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high‑ and low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (evaluated via the endpoint method) were determined in both groups. Furthermore, the length, thickness and number of CAPs was measured using color Doppler ultrasonography. In addition, levels of inflammatory biomarkers including high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP), tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), interleukin‑6 (IL‑6), nitric oxide, D‑dimer and fibrinogen, as well as change in microemboli count, were also compared After treatment, the observation group exhibited a significant reduction in size, thickness, and number of CAP and intima‑media thickness compared with before treatment. However, no significant difference was found in the indicators of CAPs in the control group before and after treatment. The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low‑density lipid cholesterol decreased, while high‑density lipid cholesterol increased in the observation group after treatment, with notable changes in the observation group compared with in the control group. Overall response rate was higher in the observation group compared with the control group. TNF‑α, IL‑6, and hs‑CRP levels in the observation group decreased after treatment compared with those before treatment and those in the control group. Furthermore, the rate of microemboli positivity was lower in the observation group than in the control group. Moreover, the overall incidence of acute cardiocerebrovascular events was lower in the observation group than in the control group. Therefore, it was demonstrated that simvastatin can reduce blood lipid levels, decrease the quantity and size of plaques, alleviate inflammatory response, reduce microemboli formation and reduce the risk of cardiocerebrovascular events in elderly patients with CAP.

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