The effect of atorvastatin on serum myeloperoxidase and CRP levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation is involved in the atherogenesis and pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). As the acute-phase reaction proteins in ACS, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) may play critical roles. Anti-inflammation may be one of benefits of statin drugs in ACS. Studies have showed that statins can suppress serum CRP concentrations. However, whether statins also reduce serum MPO concentrations in patients with ACS is unknown.


METHODS
Seventy-eight patients with ACS were randomly separated into Group A and Group B, the patients in Group A receiving conventional therapy, which include no cholesterol-lowering drugs, +atorvastatin (10 mg/day, n=40), the patients in Group B receiving conventional therapy (n=38). The serum concentrations of MPO were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and CRP were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay.


RESULTS
Serum concentrations of MPO were significantly lower after 1-week therapy in both groups of patients [Group A from 590+/-168 to 496+/-154 microg/l, Group B from 570+/-165 to 521+/-153 microg/l; P<0.01, respectively]. Serum concentrations of CRP also were markedly lower than pretreatment [Group A from 6.56+/-1.87 to 5.14+/-2.07 mg/l; Group B from 6.36+/-1.94 to 5.45+/-1.90 mg/l, P<0.05, respectively]. Compared with conventional therapy alone, atorvastatin significantly further reduced serum MPO [P=0.014] and CRP concentrations [P=0.032]. There were no correlations detected between the reduction of MPO and CRP (r=0.124, P=0.068).


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin reduced serum MPO and CRP concentrations in patients with ACS. These effects may explain some clinical benefits of statins in the treatment of these patients.
Department of Cardiology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China. zhoutao6240@yahoo.com.cn
Tao
T
Zhou
Sheng-Hua
SH
Zhou
Shu-Shan
SS
Qi
Xiang-Qian
XQ
Shen
Gao-Feng
GF
Zeng
Hong-Nian
HN
Zhou
D000208:Acute Disease; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013577:Syndrome
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D009195:Peroxidase