[Atorvastatin lowers C-reactive protein in dislipemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].
OBJECTIVE
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with an augmented risk for cardiovascular disease. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), the prototypic marker of inflammation, are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. The statins have direct anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, we tested the effects of atorvastatin on levels of CRP on patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
We evaluated CRP in baseline and 6 months after onset of 20 mg daily atorvastatin therapy of 30 patients with type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia. Clinical and biochemical data were obtained.


RESULTS
CRP-levels were significantly decreased after treatment with atorvastatin compared with baseline (median change: -4,99 mg/l; p < 0.001). We observed an correlation between CRP baseline with body mass index (r = 0.429; p = 0.018), serum fibrinogen (r = 0.607; p = 0.001) and microalbuminuria (r = 0.470; p = 0.01). Conversely, there was no significant correlation between CRP baseline with LDL cholesterol. The CRP reduction was significantly correlated with fasting glucose (r = -0.457; p = 0.019) and glycosylated hemoglobin at 6 months (r = -0.421; p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm findings from previous studies that atorvastatin reduce CRP levels in a largely LDL cholesterol independent manner.
Illán Gómez
Fátima
F
Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain. mariaf.illan@carm.es
Alcaraz Tafalla
M Soledad
MS
Pascual Díaz
Mercedes
M
Carrillo Alcaraz
Andrés
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin