[Effect of the early administration of pravastatin on C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels in the acute phase of myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation].
OBJECTIVE
C-reactive protein (CRP), whose synthesis in the liver is regulated by interleukin 6 (IL-6), is related with the prognosis for ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of early administration of pravastatin on plasma levels of CRP and IL-6 in patients with acute myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation.


METHODS
71 patients were randomized during the first 10 hours from the onset of symptoms to receive 40 mg of pravastatin once a day or not. CRP and IL-6 were measured on admission, 48 hours and 7 days later. CRP was also measured 2 months later.


RESULTS
On admission, levels of CRP and IL-6 were similar in both groups. After 7 days of treatment the administration of pravastatin was associated with a lower level of CRP (P=.002). Mean and median CRP levels decreased from 48 hours to day 7 by 48.4% and 51.9% respectively in the pravastatin group, and by 32.5% and 15.9% respectively in the control group. In contrast, no significant differences in IL-6 levels were observed between the two groups. After 2 months of follow-up, 50% of the treated patients and 25% of the control patients had CRP levels lower than 6.6 mg/L (P=.039).


CONCLUSIONS
Early administration of pravastatin in the acute phase of myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation was associated with a lower level of CRP after 7 days of treatment, with no concomitant changes in IL-6 levels.
Unidad de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain. manu.mur@terra.es
Manuel
M
Gonzálvez
José A
JA
Ruiz Ros
Matías
M
Pérez-Paredes
María L
ML
Lozano
Diego M
DM
Giménez
Francisco
F
Martínez-Corbalán
Andrés
A
Carnero
Tomás
T
Cubero
Antonio E
AE
Gómez
Vicente
V
Vicente
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D017035:Pravastatin