title: The comparison of the effects of standard 20 mg atorvastatin daily and 20 mg atorvastatin every other day on serum LDL-cholesterol and high sensitive C-reactive protein levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed at comparing the effects of standard once daily 20 mg atorvastatin treatment with that of atorvastatin 20 mg administered every other day on serum lipids and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients with serum total cholesterol levels of above 200 mg/dl and low density lipoprotein (LDL)--cholesterol levels of above 130 mg/dl were included in this prospective, randomized study. The patients were randomized into daily treatment of 20 mg atorvastatin (standard treatment) and 20 mg atorvastatin every other day (every other day treatment) groups. Before the treatment and at each visit, serum lipids and hs-CRP levels of all the patients were measured. Statistical analyses were performed Chi-square, unpaired t and two-way repeated measurements ANOVA tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the every other day treatment group, there was a 36.1% reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels by the end of first month (p<0.01). At the end of three months there was further decrease of 10.2% in LDL-cholesterol levels when compared to 1 month levels (p>0.05). The LDL cholesterol levels of the group receiving 20 mg atorvastatin every day was reduced by %41 by the end of 1 month (p<0.01). At the end of three months, the difference between the changes in the all lipid parameters of the two groups was not found to be of statistical significance. In the group receiving the medication every other day, there was a 21% decrease in hs-CRP levels compared to the basal measurements at the end of first month (p<0.05). In the group, receiving the medication every day the decrease in hs-CRP levels at the end of one month was more striking (37%, p<0.05). However, the effects of both treatment arms on hs-CRP levels, did not differ significantly (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alternate-day dosing of atorvastatin causes a significant lipid-lowering and antiinflammatory effects similar to that of daily administration and yet may provide some cost savings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drtelatkeles@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Telat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keleş
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akar Bayram
authors.forename: Tuğba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kayhan
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durmaz
authors.forename: Ozcan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydoğdu
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diker
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin