الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Objectives: chronic kidney disease and atherosclerosis are considered to be inflammatory process in which T cells and cytokines participate. This study determines the effect of statin therapy as an anti-inflammatory agent on the level of CD4+CD28null T lymphocyte population and TNF-α, and subsequently on atherosclerosis in patients with chronic renal disease over a period of six months. Methods: We recruited 90 chronic kidney disease patients. The patients were divided into three groups according to carotid intimal medial thickness as an indicator of atherosclerosis. Two groups (group A and B) were given statin (atorvastatin 20mg) while the third group (group C) continue only on the conservative treatment for CKD patients. CD4+CD28null T cells and TNF-α were measured in the three groups at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of statin therapy. Results: CD4+CD28null T cells and TNF-α level were decreased in statin groups (group A and B) when compared to no-statin group (group C) at the end of the study. Multivariable regression analysis for the effect of statin therapy showed that statin can independently increase the percentage of decrease both CD4+CD28null cells and TNF-α at the end of our study (p-value <0.0001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that statins re-duce CD4+CD28null T cells and TNF-α level in CKD patients especially with atherosclerosis suggesting that statins may help in altering the inflammatory process that lead to atherosclerosis. |