Serum levels of cytokines and chemokines associated with cardiovascular disease in Brazilian patients treated with statins for dyslipidemia.

The anti-inflammatory effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has been investigated in dyslipidemic patients treated with these pharmacologic agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of cytokines and chemokines that have been associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in Brazilian patients treated for hypercholesterolemia with statin. The serum levels of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-β, and the levels of the chemokines IL-8 (CXCL8) and MCP-1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and tested for their association with cardiovascular disease.