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Heart disease patients have had their levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) significantly reduced in a trial of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium).
A comparative atorvastatin pleiotropic effects (CAP) study, published in Clinical Therapeutics, reports levels down 55% for an 80mg dose and 21% for 10mg.
Patients all had stable coronary artery disease, normal to mildly elevated cholesterol levels and high levels of hsCRP, which are though to indicate cardiovascular risk.
The baseline hsCRP concentration was 3.1mg/L and 3.6mg/L respectively for the 10mg and 80mg dosages.
For the purpose of the trial, coronary artery disease was defined by either a history of heart attack or angina, 50% coronary narrowing, coronary artery bypass or angioplasty.
Reductions in hsCRP were largely independent of the reductions in LDL cholesterol, and significantly greater in those treated with Lipitor 80mg compared with Lipitor 10mg.
Dr Jean Davignon, director of the hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis research group at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal in Canada, said: “Most encouraging was the fact that further reductions in hsCRP were observed with intensive Lipitor therapy versus a lower dose.”
Copyright Press Association 2009
