Statin treatment decreases serum angiostatin levels in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Aim: Angiogenesis and chronic inflammation are known to be co-dependent in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This study was undertaken to investigate whether simvastatin could affect serum levels of angiostatin, a potent endogenous inhibitor of neovascularization, in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Main Methods: Twenty-six patients with clinically confirmed IHD and hypercholesterolemia were assigned 40 mg/day of simvastatin for 8 weeks.