J Lipid Atheroscler.  2012 Jun;1(1):21-28. 10.12997/jla.2012.1.1.21.

Effect of Statins on C-reactive Protein, Lipoprotein(a) and Fibrinogen in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

• Cho JH
• Kim KJ
• Lee WS
• Lee KJ
• Kim SW
• Kim TH
• Kim CJ

• KMID: 2198372
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2012.1.1.21

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein (a)[Lp(a)], and fibrinogen are associated with systemic inflammatory reactions. Statins have anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of statins on these parameters is inconsistent. We evaluated the effect of statins on inflammatory markers and variables related to changes in these markers.
METHODS
A total of 390 hypercholesterolemic patients were enrolled. Atorvastatin (n=112), lovastatin (n=25), pitavastatin (n=49), rosuvastatin (n=20), and simvastatin (n=184) were administered. Lipids, CRP, Lp(a), and fibrinogen levels were measured before and after 2 months of the therapy.
RESULTS
Statins reduced cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels by -28.9+/-9.1% (P=0.000), -41.4+/-12.4% (P=0.000), and -11.6+/-39.4% (P=0.000), respectively and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level by 2.56+/-13.2% (P=0.014). CRP levels decreased from 1.23+/-1.30 to 1.14+/-1.29 mg/L (P=0.000). Lp(a) levels were not changed (P=0.91) and fibrinogen levels increased from 277.8+/-54.4 to 282.6+/-56.9 mg/dL (P=0.042). Changes in CRP levels were associated with baseline CRP levels (r=-0.56, P=0.000) and changes in HDL cholesterol levels (r=-0.14, P=0.005). Changes in Lp(a) levels were associated with changes in triglyceride (r=-0.24, P=0.000) and baseline aspartate aminotransferase level (r=0.12, P=0.015). Changes in fibrinogen levels were associated with baseline fibrinogen levels (r=-0.40, P=0.000), sex (r=0.18, P=0.001), and changes in HDL cholesterol levels (r=-0.15, P=0.003).
CONCLUSION
Inflammatory markers showed different responses to statins and changes in these markers were associated with different parameters. This finding suggests that anti-inflammatory effect of statin is confined to a specific pathway of inflammation.

Keyword

C-reactive protein; Statin; Fibrinogen; Lipoprotein; Lipids

MeSH Terms

Aspartate Aminotransferases
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Fibrinogen
Fluorobenzenes
Heptanoic Acids
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Inflammation
Lipoprotein(a)
Lipoproteins
Lovastatin
Pyrimidines
Pyrroles
Quinolines
Simvastatin
Sulfonamides
Atorvastatin Calcium
Rosuvastatin Calcium
Aspartate Aminotransferases
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Fibrinogen
Fluorobenzenes
Heptanoic Acids
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Lipoprotein(a)
Lipoproteins
Lovastatin
Pyrimidines
Pyrroles
Quinolines
Simvastatin
Sulfonamides

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Relation between baseline and changes in CRP levels. CRP; C-reactive protein.

• 

  Fig. 2 Relation between changes in triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) levels.

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  Fig. 3 Relation between baseline and changes in fibrinogen levels.

• 

  Fig. 4 Relation between changes in fibrinogen and CRP levels.

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