Platelet tissue factor activity and membrane cholesterol are increased in hypercholesterolemia and normalized by rosuvastatin, but not by atorvastatin

•Platelet tissue factor (TF) initiates the clotting process.•TF activation is induced by VWF binding to GPIbα.•Platelet FXa generation in hypercholesterolemia (HC) is abnormally high.•Rosuvastatin decreases platelet cholesterol and TF-induced clotting in HC.•HDL and platelet TF activity correlate negatively in non-treated HC-patients.