title: Atorvastatin affects C-reactive protein levels in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Firat University Medical School, Elaziğ, Turkey. ilgink@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ilgin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Erdoğan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilkay
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yavuzkir
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pekdemir
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: Nadi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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