Journal of Vascular Medicine & Surgery

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory Effects of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitor on Acute Coronary Arteritis in A Rabbit Model of Kawasaki Disease

Kenji Hamaoka

Background: Recent observations suggest that some of the clinical benefits associated with statin therapy are pleiotropic, i.e., they are independent of their cholesterol-inhibiting action. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of statins on coronary arteritis in a rabbit model of Kawasaki disease (KD).
Methods and Results: Allergic vasculitis rabbit models were used in this study and divided into 3 groups as follows: no treatment (A), fluvastatin treatment (B), and pravastatin treatment (C). In group A, histological examinations demonstrated severe panvasculitis with endothelial destruction, marked mononuclear cell infiltration of all layers, and edematous thickening of the medial layer. These inflammatory findings were most prominent on day 3 and were similar to the histopathological features in KD. However, in both groups B and C, the inflammatory findings were significantly suppressed even on day 3 in comparison with those in group A.
Conclusions: Our study showed that statins had significant anti-inflammatory effects in a rabbit model of acute coronary arteritis typical of KD. It is suggested that statins may be effective for preventing the development of coronary aneurysmal changes.