Publication:

Compare the effect of high and low doses of atorvastatin on the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background Findings of other researches indicate that inflammation process is one of the most important molecular interactions mediated in atherosclerosis and the inflammation indexes of plasma level such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is regarded to predict the risk of cardio-vascular diseases. According to various studies, statins are certainly effective in the prevention of atherosclerosis and anti-inflammatory role of atorvastatin by lowering effect on hs-CRP can be considered. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of high and low doses of atorvastatin on levels of hs-CRP in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods This is a clinical trial study that has been done on 180 patients with acute coronary syndrome who referred to Imam Khomeini hospital in Ardabil. Patients were divided in 2 groups randomly. Atorvastatin with low dose (20mg) and high dose (40mg) with routine treatments were given to first and second groups, respectively. The hs-CRP level was evaluated for all patients in hospitalized time and third month late. Data were collected and analyzed by statistical methods in SPSS.19.

Results Of all patients, 40 patients (22.2%) was assayed with STEMI, 8 patients (4.4%) with N/Q WMI and132 patients (73.3%) with U/A. 125 patients (69.4%) were male and rest of them were female. The age average of patients was 59.1±8.1 years. 74 (41.1%) of patients had blood pressure and 35 (19.4%) use smoke. After three months, in group with low dose, 81 patients (90%) and in group with high dose 85 patients (94.4%) improved. The atorvastatin with high dose could significantly decrease the hs-CRP ratio with 40% more than other group with 13.3%.

Conclusions In this study high dosage of atorvastatin could lessen significantly the hs-CRP and LDL ratio compared to atorvastatin with low dosage.