Open AccessComparing efficacy and safety of plasmapheresis versus atorvastatin in pathological progression of atherosclerosis in a rodent model
Author(s) -
Jun Zhang,
Huawei Tian,
Yuping Li
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tropical journal of pharmaceutical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.209
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1596-5996
pISSN - 1596-9827
DOI - 10.4314/tjpr.v20i11.17
Subject(s) - atorvastatin , medicine , plasmapheresis , lesion , gastroenterology , cholesterol , lipoprotein , dose , urology , cardiology , endocrinology , surgery , immunology , antibody
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of plasmapheresis versus atorvastatin in pathological progression of atherosclerosis in a rodent model.Method: A total of 90 male adult rats of up to 300 g were randomly distributed in three groups (n = 30): group 1 (plasmapheresis up to 1.5 ml daily); group 2 (atorvastatin 0.1 mg/kg per day), and group 3 (hypercholesteremic rats). The following variables were assessed for 24 weeks: plasma and hepatic lipid and anti-oxidant profiles; atherosclerotic abrasions/lesions; coronary atherosclerosis/coronary stenosis score (CSS), composition of atherosclerotic lesions, incidence of xanthoma, arch and thoracic surface involvement including arch and thoracic area occupied by lesion; and thoracic aorta (I/M) ratio.Results: Compared to rats administered with atorvastatin, the rats treated with plasmapheresis had significantly greater improvement in levels of triglycerides (132 vs 124 mg/dl, p < 0.05), total cholesterol (201 vs 189 mg/dl, p < 0.05)), low-density lipoproteins (134 vs 123 mg/dl, p < 0.05)), very-low-density lipoprotein (11 vs 9 mg/dl, p < 0.05)) and high-density lipoprotein (36 vs 39 mg/dl, p < 0.05) levels. Plasmapheresis after 24 weeks of treatment improve CSS in all coronary arteries than atorvastatin (22 vs 24 respectively; p < 0.05. Furthermore, lesioned composition, I/M ratio and xanthoma incidence were significantly lower in plasmapheresis group than in atorvastatin group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Plasmapheresis is a better alternative than atorvastatin in preventing pathological progression of atherosclerosis.