Effect of Short-Term Treatment With Pravastatin on Cytokines and Cytokine Receptors in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure Due to Ischemic and Nonischemic Disease

The antiinflammatory effect of lipoproteins through neutralization of circulating endotoxin has questioned the safety of lipid-lowering drugs in chronic heart failure (CHF). We measured serum levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and soluble TNF-α receptors 1 and 2 before and after 1-month treatment with pravastatin 40 mg in 58 patients with CHF. Short-term treatment with pravastatin attenuated the immune response in patients with CHF due to ischemic or nonischemic etiology.