Reduction of Soluble E-Selectin after Combined Treatment with Simvastatin and Vitamins C and E

Objective: We investigated the influence of treatment with simvastatin and vitamins C and E on serum levels of soluble cell adhesion molecules (sCAM) as markers of atherosclerosis and endothelial activation. Methods: In 11 hypercholesterolemic patients, serum levels of sCAM were measured by enzyme immunoassay before and after 6 weeks of treatment with either simvastatin (20 mg) or vitamin C (1 g) plus vitamin E (600 mg) and after an additional 6 weeks of combined treatment. In 8 of the patients angiography was performed at study entry. Results: Baseline levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) showed an age-dependent increase (coefficient of correlation 0.71, p = 0.014) and were higher in patients with established atherosclerotic lesions than in patients with no such lesions (369.5 ± 61.8 vs. 238.4 ± 56.4 ng/ml, p = 0.023). Whereas either treatment alone had no influence on the serum levels of sCAM, combined treatment with simvastatin and vitamins C and E reduced serum levels of soluble E-selectin from 43.2 ± 18.9 ng/ml at baseline to 39.7 ± 16.5 ng/ml (p = 0.027) at study end. Although not significant, levels of soluble P-selectin were also reduced from a mean of 125.9 ± 64.1 ng/ml at baseline to 115 ± 64.9 ng/ml (p = 0.1). Serum levels of sICAM-1 and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) remained unchanged by this treatment. Conclusion: Combined treatment with simvastatin and vitamins C and E reduced serum levels of soluble E-selectin but had no influence on sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels.