TY - JOUR
T1 - Does statin therapy reduce plasma VEGF levels in humans? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
AU - Sahebkar, Amirhossein
AU - Ponziani, M.C.
AU - Goitre, I.
AU - Bo, S.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - © 2015 Elsevier Inc. Background The effect of statins on plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the main angiogenic growth factor with pro-inflammatory and atherogenic properties, is controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to obtain a conclusive result in humans. Methods PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify RCTs investigating the impact of statins on plasma VEGF concentrations. A random-effects model and the generic inverse variance method were used for quantitative data synthesis. Meta-regression, sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessments were performed using standard methods. Results Eight RCTs examining the effects of statins on plasma VEGF concentrations were included. Meta-analysis suggested a significant reduction of plasma VEGF levels following statin therapy (weighed mean difference: - 19.88 pg/mL, 95% CI: - 35.87, - 3.89, p = 0.015). VEGF reductions were observed in the subsets of trials with treatment durations ≥ 4 weeks (- 19.54, - 37.78, - 1.30, p = 0.036), LDL-C reductions ≥ 50 mg/dL (- 28.59, - 43.68, - 13.50, p <0.001), lipophilic statins (- 22.31, - 40.65, - 3.98, p = 0.017), and diseased populations (- 21.08, - 39.97, - 2.18, p = 0.029), but not in the opposite subsets. Meta-regression also suggested a significant association between changes in plasma VEGF levels and LDL-C changes, treatment duration, but not molar dose of statins. Conclusions These results suggest a significant reduction in plasma VEGF concentrations following statin therapy. This effect depends on duration of treatment, LDL-lowering activity, lipophilicity of statins, and health status of studied individuals. Further RCTs are needed to explore if the VEGF reduction is implicated in the statin benefits on cardiovascular outcomes.
AB - © 2015 Elsevier Inc. Background The effect of statins on plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the main angiogenic growth factor with pro-inflammatory and atherogenic properties, is controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to obtain a conclusive result in humans. Methods PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify RCTs investigating the impact of statins on plasma VEGF concentrations. A random-effects model and the generic inverse variance method were used for quantitative data synthesis. Meta-regression, sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessments were performed using standard methods. Results Eight RCTs examining the effects of statins on plasma VEGF concentrations were included. Meta-analysis suggested a significant reduction of plasma VEGF levels following statin therapy (weighed mean difference: - 19.88 pg/mL, 95% CI: - 35.87, - 3.89, p = 0.015). VEGF reductions were observed in the subsets of trials with treatment durations ≥ 4 weeks (- 19.54, - 37.78, - 1.30, p = 0.036), LDL-C reductions ≥ 50 mg/dL (- 28.59, - 43.68, - 13.50, p <0.001), lipophilic statins (- 22.31, - 40.65, - 3.98, p = 0.017), and diseased populations (- 21.08, - 39.97, - 2.18, p = 0.029), but not in the opposite subsets. Meta-regression also suggested a significant association between changes in plasma VEGF levels and LDL-C changes, treatment duration, but not molar dose of statins. Conclusions These results suggest a significant reduction in plasma VEGF concentrations following statin therapy. This effect depends on duration of treatment, LDL-lowering activity, lipophilicity of statins, and health status of studied individuals. Further RCTs are needed to explore if the VEGF reduction is implicated in the statin benefits on cardiovascular outcomes.
U2 - 10.1016/j.metabol.2015.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.metabol.2015.08.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 26347012
VL - 64
SP - 1466
EP - 1476
JO - Metabolism
JF - Metabolism
SN - 0026-0495
IS - 11
ER -