The effect of short-term treatment with atorvastatin on E-selectin levels in severely burned patients.

Cellular adhesion molecules are expressed by activated endothelial cells in severe bum. The release of these molecules can lead to organ damage. We measured E-selectin levels in the blood of 20 severe-burn patients. Then the patients were divided into two groups of 10 patients each. In the study group, atorvastatin 20 mg/day was administered orally for 14 days. In the control group, an equal volume of placebo was administered orally for 14 days. In both groups, following the last dose of the agents, serum E-selectin levels were measured again. Mean burn size and the percentage of third-degree bums of total burned area were not significantly different between the groups. Serum E-selectin level obtained at the beginning of the treatment was 23.69 +/- 2.71 ng/ml in the atorvastatin group and 18.08 +/- 0.97 ng/ml in the control group. Serum E-selectin level obtained at the end of the treatment was 10.86 +/- 1.36 ng/ml in the atorvastatin group and 21.69 +/- 2.11 ng/ml in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the comparison of early and late serum E-selectin levels in the atorvastatin group, a significant decrease was obtained (p < 0.05). In the control group, serum E-selectin levels were found to be increased in the late period. However, the difference between the early and late values was nonsignificant (p > 0.05). We concluded that atorvastatin is effective in the prevention of E-selectin release in severely burned patients.