[Anti-inflammatory properties of statins in the study of atherosclerotic plaques in the endartectomized coronary arteries].

Statin therapy reduces blood cholesterol and lipids and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. Certain statins bind adhesion molecules, including functional leukocytic antigen-1, and therefore block their interaction with T lymphocytes and macrophages expressing the counter-receptor intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Quantitation of endothelium-adherent T cells and macrophages revealed much smaller numbers of these cells in patients receiving statins. The authors consider that the lower count of T lymphocytes and macrophages in the upper layers of the intima and atherosclerotic plaques may facilitate the conversion of unstable to stable plaques, which reduces the risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and resultant vascular thrombosis.