title: Changes in serum interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and their responses to simvastatin.
abstract: The role of inflammation in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the mechanism by which statin treats ACS is explored. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in 50 patients with ACS [including 30 cases with unstable angina (UA) and 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)], 34 patients with stable angina (SA), and 30 controls. Patients in the ACS group were randomly assigned to a simvastatin group (including a simvastatin AMI subgroup, n = 11 and a simvastatin UA subgroup, n = 14) and a routine group (including a routine AMI subgroup, n = 9 and a routine UA subgroup, n = 16). The simvastatin group was given simvastatin 20mg/day and the routine group a placebo. After a 3-week follow-up, serum hs-CRP, IL-6 levels, and serum lipid concentrations were measured again. Both serum IL-6 and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in the ACS group (including the UA and AMI subgroups) than in the SA and control groups (P < 0.001). After 3 weeks of treatment with simvastatin, the serum IL-6, hs-CRP, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were decreased significantly in the simvastatin group (P < 0.001), but no significant changes were observed in the routine group. No relationship was observed between the rate of decrease of serum IL-6 or hs-CRP and serum lipids levels. The hs-CRP level showed a significant correlation with IL-6 by Spearman's rank correlation analysis (P < 0.01). Inflammation plays an important role in the initiation of ACS. Simvastatin possesses an anti-inflammatory effect, independent of its lipid-lowering action, which may play an important role in the early treatment of ACS.
authors.affiliation: The Emergency Room, Longgangqu Renming Hospital, Aixin Road, Zhongxin Chen Longgang, Shenzhen 518172, China. yumeiluo2000@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Deqian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019821:Simvastatin