[Effects of atorvastatin on plasma hypersensitive C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in patients with acute cerebral infarction].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of different doses of atorvastatin on the plasma hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with acute cerebral infarction.


METHODS
131 patients with acute cerebral infarction, 73 males and 58 females, aged 63 +/- 11, were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group A (n = 47), with basal treatment; Group B (n = 42), atorvastatin 10 mg was added every night; and Group C (n = 42), atorvastatin 20 mg was added every night. Before the treatment and 7 and 14 days after the treatment the plasma levels of hsCRP and IL-6, fasting plasma levels of lipid, such as total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-C (LDL-C), liver functions, such as aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), urea nitrogen, were detected. Neurological function deficit was determined. The survival condition was surveyed 6 months after.


RESULTS
(1) The TC and LDL-C decreased after treatment in the 3 groups with significant differences between Group A and Group C, Group B and Group C, and Group B and Group C (all P < 0.05). (2) The plasma level of hsCRP decreased by 9.1%, 33.9%, and 30.1% respectively 7 days after treatment in Groups A, B, and C with significant differences between Groups A and B and between Groups A and C (both P < 0.05), however, without significant difference between Group B and Group C. The level of hsCRP decreased by 34.3%, 56.0%, and 52.9% respectively 14 days after treatment in the 3 groups with significant differences between Groups A and B and between Groups A and C (both P < 0.05), however, without significant difference between Group B and Group C. (3) The level of IL-6 decreased 7 and 14 days after treatment in all 3 groups, however, without significant differences between any 2 groups (all P > 0.05). (4) The decrease of hsCRP and decrease of IL-6 were not correlated with the percentage of TC decrease (both P > 0.05) in Group B. The decrease of hsCRP was not correlated with the changes of blood lipids in Group C. (5) Both the plasma hsCRP and IL-6 before treatment were positively correlated with the infection volume and neurological function score (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin has an anti-inflammatory action benefiting the alleviation of secondary inflammatory damaged in acute cerebral infarction that is independent of lipid lowering.
Zhao
Shui-ping
SP
Department of Cardiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Wu
Jun
J
Tan
Li-ming
LM
Hu
Zhi-ping
ZP
Xiao
Zhi-jie
ZJ
Nie
Sai
S
Zhou
Hong-nian
HN
Jiang
Bo
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin