title: Effects of high versus low-dose atorvastatin on high sensitive C-reactive protein in acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality. The previous findings which suggest the reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels by statin encouraged us to conduct the present study in which we tested the effects of atorvastatin, on levels of hs-CRP in a prospective randomised clinical trial study on patients with acute coronary syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Present prospective randomised clinical trial study conducted on 180 patients who had developed coronary artery disease and presented in emergency departments of Educational-Medical centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The patients were divided randomly into two groups and then two therapeutic protocols were given to them. One group medicated by high-dose atorvastatin (40 mg) and the other group received low-dose atorvastatin (20 mg). All variables were collected by questionnaires and were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 180 patients consisted of 34 females and 56 males in low-dose atorvastatin group (L-DA group), and 30 females and 60 males in high-dose atorvastatin group (H-DA group) (P = 0.533). In this study atorvastatin in high doses decreased hs-CRP levels about 40% and in low doses it only caused decrease of 13.3%, and significant correlation was observed between two groups (Paired Sample T-test) (P = 0.001). Also atorvastatin in high doses decreased LDL levels about 23% and in low doses it only decreased 10%, and significant correlation was observed between two groups (Paired Sample T-test) (P = 0.001). Atorvastatin in high doses decreased HDL levels about 9% and in low doses it only decreased 6%, and again significant correlation was observed between two groups (P = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirms the novel observation that atorvastatin therapy results in a significant reduction in hs-CRP levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Behzad Babapor
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Saatlo
authors.affiliation: Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naghavi-Behzad
authors.affiliation: Publication Office, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taqizadeh-Jahed
authors.affiliation: Publication Office, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alikhah
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbasnezhad
keywords: Atorvastatin; acute coronary syndrome; chest pain; hs-CRP