[Evaluation of thrombin generation and clot bound thrombin in plasma of hyperlipidemic patients treated with statins]

Thrombin is a crucial enzyme in blood coagulation cascade having both pro- and antithrombotic properties. Disorders of hemostatic balance increase possibility of clot formation and play significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. Statins applied in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, have not only hypolipemic activity but also many pleiotropic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of thrombin generation and clot bound thrombin in patients with hyperlipidemia type II (hlpII) before and after statins treatment. 81 patients were involved in this study: 59 patients with hlp II and 22 healthy. Patients with hlp II were treated with pravastatin (20 mg/day; n=10), simvastatin (20 mg/day; n=22), atorvastatin (10 mg/day; n=27). The treatment in each of groups lasted 8 weeks. Thrombin generation and clot bound thrombin level were estimated before and after therapy by means of spectrophotometric method with usage of chromogenic substrate S-2238. Our results demonstrate that therapy with atorva- simva- and pravastatin improves lipid levels in plasma and investigated hemostasis parameters. All three statins statistically significantly decrease total generated thrombin. Atorva- and simvastatin also significantly decrease activity both free generated thrombin and clot bound thrombin. No correlation between lipidogram and hemostatic parameters after treatment with statins suggests that observed changes are pleiotropic effect of statins treatment.