Korean Circ J.  2004 Apr;34(4):381-387. 10.4070/kcj.2004.34.4.381.

Effect of Hydroxymethyl Glutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitor on High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Hypercholesterolemic Patients without Atherosclerotic Diseases

• Jung KS
• Lee KE
• Lee SH
• Kim SJ
• Lee KJ
• Kim SW
• Kim TH
• Ko HS
• Kim CJ
• Ryu WS
• Park AJ

• KMID: 2294364
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2004.34.4.381

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
High C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The hydroxymethyl glutaryl Coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statin) lowers the CRP level in the population of developed countries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of statin on the CRP levels in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients without atherosclerotic diseases. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients with hypercholesterolemia, administered 20 mg lovastatin or 10 mg atorvastatin, and the same number of similar aged, sex-matched, hypercholesterolemic patients, as a control group, were enrolled. Non-drug measures were recommended for those without the medication. The patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases were excluded. The lipid profiles and high sensitive CRP levels were measured before and after 2 months of the medication.
RESULTS
The baseline CRP levels were not related to the levels of lipids. Statin therapy reduced the CRP levels from 2.17+/-2.40 (median value 1.11) mg/L to 1.24+/-1.79 (0.68) mg/L (p=0.003). In all the cases, the magnitude of change in the CRP was related to the statin therapy allocation and the magnitude of changes in the total and low density lipoprotein cholesterols in a univariate analysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that only the statin therapy allocation was an independent variable. For each group, no significant relationship between the changes of CRP and lipids was observed.
CONCLUSION
Short term statin therapy reduced the CRP levels in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients without atherosclerotic diseases, and the phenomenon was independent of the changes in lipids.

Keyword

C-reactive protein; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipids

MeSH Terms

C-Reactive Protein*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol, LDL
Coenzyme A*
Developed Countries
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Hypercholesterolemia
Lovastatin
Oxidoreductases*
Atorvastatin Calcium
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol, LDL
Coenzyme A
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Lovastatin
Oxidoreductases