Chonnam Med J.  2008 Apr;44(1):13-16. 10.4068/cmj.2008.44.1.13.

Statin Reduces C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 in Normocholesterolemic Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

• Park OY
• Kim SH
• Ahn YK
• Yun NS
• Kim JH
• Sim DS
• Yoon HJ
• Kim KH
• Park HW
• Hong YJ
• Jeong MH
• Cho JG
• Park JC

• KMID: 1973385
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2008.44.1.13

Abstract

Many evidences suggest that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and inflammatory markers can be an important prognostic factors in acute coronary syndrome. Hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown anti-inflammatory property that are independent of lipid-lowering effects. We evaluated the effects of 2-month treatment with simvastatin (40 mg/d, n=20) on plasma levels of circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6], and adhesion molecules [p-selectin and monocyte chemotactic peptide (MCP)-1] with placebo group (n=20) in 40 normocholesterolemic patients (LDL<130 mg/dl) with acute coronary syndrome. Simvastatin therapy significantly reduced plasma levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (p=0.05, p=0.02, respectively) compared with placebo group. Simvastatin therapy also significantly reduced plasma levels of hsCRP and IL-6 (p=0.03, p=0.03, respectively) compared with placebo group. But, the reduction of hsCRP and IL-6 levels with simvastatin was unrelated to the degree of LDL-cholesterol's reduction. The effect of simvastatin on the reduction of hsCRP and IL-6, but not on the other inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules, have potential implications in the management of acute coronary syndrome with normocholesterolemia.

Keyword

CRP protein; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Cholesterol

MeSH Terms

Acute Coronary Syndrome
Atherosclerosis
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol
Cytokines
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Monocytes
Necrosis
Oxidoreductases
Plasma
Simvastatin
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol
Cytokines
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Oxidoreductases
Simvastatin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Changes in LVEDd and LVESd, and LV ejection fraction (EF) after 2 months of placebo and simvastatin treatment. LVEDd, left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension; LVESd, LV end systolic dimension (LVESd); EF, LV ejection fraction.

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