Atorvastatin affects C-reactive protein levels in patients with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are considered to be one of the indicators of poor prognosis in coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin in patients with CAD by measuring serum CRP levels.


METHODS
After measuring the baseline levels of CRP and lipid fractions, the patients were divided into two groups. In Group A (n = 46), atorvastatin (20 mg/day) was administered in addition to classic antianginal treatment (beta-blocker, nitrate and aspirin). In Group B (n = 32), the usual antianginal treatment was continued. Following 4 weeks of treatment the same measurements were repeated.


RESULTS
In Group A, CRP decreased from 20.3 mg/dl (95% CI, 9-31.8) to 10.8 mg/dl (95% CI, 2.7-18.9) (p < 0.001). In Group B, CRP decreased from 17 mg/dl (95% CI, 13.1-21) to 12.8 mg/dl (95% CI, 9.7-15.9) (p < 0.01). The decrease in group A was more than in group B (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with CAD, atorvastatin exerted an anti-inflammatory effect represented by decreasing CRP levels. This effect was independent of the change in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.
Karaca
Ilgin
I
Firat University Medical School, Elaziğ, Turkey. ilgink@yahoo.com
Ilkay
Erdoğan
E
Akbulut
Mehmet
M
Yavuzkir
Mustafa
M
Pekdemir
Murat
M
Akbulut
Handan
H
Arslan
Nadi
N
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin