[Effects of fluvastatin on the levels of C-reactive protein and lipids in patients with hyperlipidemia].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes of C-reactive protein (CRP) level and its relationship with blood lipids, and the effects of fluvastatin on CRP and the lipids in patients with hyperlipidemia.


METHODS
Serum levels of cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)] were measured by enzyme assay, and plasma CRP level by immunonephelometry before and after fluvastatin treatment (20 mg/d for 4 weeks) in patients with hyperlipidemia.


RESULTS
CRP levels were above normal in 90.3% hyperlipidemia cases in spite of the various accompanying diseases. Fluvastatin treatment significantly reduced TC (-7.49%), TG (-14.32%), LDL (-13.88%), VLDL (-18.48%) and TC/HDL(-13.50%) levels (P<0.01), and also brought down Lp(a) concentration (-13.81%). CRP levels was very effectively reduced after the treatment (-15.92%, P<0.001). No association between basal CRP levels and basal lipids and Lp(a) concentrations was observed. Positive correlation of CRP, however, was observed after fluvastatin treatment with TC/HDL (r=0.62, P=0.041) and Lp(a) (r=0.320, P=0.011), while inverse relations were noted between CRP and HDL (r=-0.288, P=0.023).


CONCLUSIONS
CRP levels increases markedly in patients with hyperlipidemia, a fact that is independent of the accompanying diseases. In addition to modulating blood lipid levels, fluvastatin also reduces CRP level, the latter possibly serving as an independent predictive factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and also as an indicator for estimating the effectiveness of the treatment.
Chi
Dong-Sheng
DS
Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. cds518@sina.com
Jin
Feng-Xia
FX
Yang
Shu-Guang
SG
Su
Yu-Wen
YW
Ge
Bin
B
Zhang
Jie
J
Zhang
Yan
Y
Liu
Yi-Li
YL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007211:Indoles; D008055:Lipids; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein