title: Pravastatin therapy fails to suppress post-PCI inflammatory response measured by serum neopterin and CRP levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is known to induce both local and systemic inflammatory states. In addition to lowering lipid levels, statins exert well-proven anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the effects of pravastatin on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and neopterin levels in the short term after elective PCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized prospective study, 93 patients undergoing elective PCI were enrolled. Group 1 (n=30) received pravastatin at a dose of 10 mg/day, Group 2 (n=29) was given 40 mg/day, and Group 3 (n=34) served as the control group and received no lipid-lowering drugs. Blood samples were drawn before and after PCI to measure serum CRP and neopterin levels. Differences among the groups for continuous variables were evaluated by the ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test as appropriate. The Chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic features and the characteristics of the PCI, including the number of vessels and lesions and the duration and number of inflations, did not differ among groups (p>0.05). Serum CRP and neopterin levels were significantly increased after PCI (p<0.001). Mean serum neopterin levels before and after the PCI were as follows: Group 1: 13.3±5.9 vs 22.8±15.4 nmol/L, Group 2: 16.9±10.2 vs 22.0±14.9 nmol/L, controls: 15.2±11.9 and 18.8±11.5 nmol/L. Prior pravastatin therapy had no significant effect on these inflammatory markers (F=0.5, p=0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous coronary intervention induces a pronounced inflammatory response. The pre-procedural administration of 2 different doses of pravastatin seems not enough to suppress this inflammation at the short-term follow-up. Further trials are needed to clarify this issue.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Güven Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. hbozbas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozbaş
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mermer
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yıldırır
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konaş
authors.forename: Ilyas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Atar
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydınalp
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozin
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Müderrisoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011292:Premedication; D015607:Stents; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019798:Neopterin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D017035:Pravastatin