Hypercoagulable state in patients with hypercholesterolemia: effects of pravastatin.

Molecular markers of the coagulation system and the effects of pravastatin on lipid levels and the coagulation markers were studied in 48 patients (mean age, 55 years) with hypercholesterolemia (plasma total cholesterol levels > 280 mg/dl). Each patient received 10 mg of pravastatin daily for 3 months. Plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased significantly during treatment and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly. Above-normal plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex, fibrinopeptide A, FDP-D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor-I, and thrombomodulin were found in the patients before treatment; each of these was reduced significantly during treatment. The findings suggest the presence of a hypercoagulable state in hypercholesterolemia and that pravastatin might prevent the hypercoagulable state by reducing hypercholesterolemia.