2. Independent effect of atorvastatin on C-reactive protein in patients with cardiovascular diseases

The present study was designed to determine the effect of atorvastatin on C-reactive protein in patients with or at risk for coronary heart disease. The study population consisted of 100 patients with or without CHD was recruited for the study, of which 50 belongs to control (untreated) and 50 were test group (treated) and received daily with 10 mg/day of atorvastatin. The patients were followed for over a period of 3 months. For entire study population, the level of C-reactive protein along with lipid profile, apolipoprotein-A-l (Apo-A-I), apolipoprotein (Apo-B), ALT and AST were measured here1st day of initial visit and at the end of 3rd month of the treatment. There was significantly greater reduction in the levels of both lipid profile, lipoproteins and C-reactive protein were found in test group when compare with control group. No serious adverse events were considered associated with treatment. In summary, there is a need for more effective total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein lowering agents and significantly depressed C-reactive protein concentrations after 3rd month of therapy. These results may be important with respect to the early benefit of statin therapy. These findings suggest that statin-mediated anti-inflammatory effects may contribute to the ability of atorvastatin to reduce risk for coronary heart disease. Atorvastatin should constitute an important independent therapeutic option for patients with hyperlipidemia and anti-inflammatory effect to reduce risk for coronary heart disease.