title: The effect of doubling the statin dose on pro-inflammatory cytokine in patients with triple-vessel coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statin prevents atherosclerotic progression and helps to stabilize the plaque. According to a recent study, statin reduces inflammation in blood vessels. However, it has not been demonstrated to have any anti-inflammation reaction in patients who have been diagnosed as having a triple-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included a total of thirty (30) patients who had been diagnosed by coronary angiogram as having a triple-vessel CAD. Patients who already had been taking statin were given doubled dosage. An interview, physical examination and blood test were performed at the beginning of this study and three months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After doubling the dose of statin, there was no statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, (increase in) high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood test. C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant, significantly decreased from 0.34 mg/dL at the beginning of the study to 0.12 mg/dL at the end of study (p<0.01). The interleukin-6 concentration also significantly decreased from 8.55 pg/dL to 4.81 pg/dL (p<0.001). No major cardiovascular events occurred and the dosage regimen was not modified during the close observation period. There was no difference in the symptoms of angina pectoris, established by World Health Organization Angina Questionnaires, before and after the dose increase. Liver enzymes remained within normal range with no significant increase before and after conducting this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doubling the dose of statin alone significantly lowers pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration, which is closely related to the potential acute coronary syndrome, and CRP, a marker of vascular inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hye-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wouk Bum
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Pyun
authors.forename: Si-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: C-reactive protein; Interleukin-6; Statin