Anti-inflammatory and anti-lipemic effect of statin therapy in coronary artery disease patients with calcium calcification

Background: Inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerosis. In multiple epidemiologic studies, inflammatory biomarkers such as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and it has been directly implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis The present study was designed to show the anti-inflammatory and anti-lipemic effect of 6-8 months of statin treatment via the measurement of serum hs-CRP and lipid profile parameters. Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out at Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Baghdad University and at Ibn-Al-Bitar Hospital, Bagdad, Iraq, during the period from February 2013 to November 2013. It included 25 patients with coronary artery disease and who have had a mild to moderate coronary artery Ca score of < 400 agatston unit (AU) and not on statin treatment (GI). Twenty of these patients were putted on atrovastatin treatment for 6-8 months and regarded as GII. Investigations included serum measurement of high sensitive-(hs-) CRP, lipid profile parameters, fasting serum glucose and HbA1c in both groups. Results: After the complete course of treatment with statin, the mean value of hs-CRP concentration of GI (2.77±2.83 mg/l) was decreased in comparison to those before treatment of the same patients group (GII, 3.04±3.45 mg/l), but did not reach the significant level. The mean value of HDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly increased in GII when compared to GI (P=0.001, P= 0.019, respectively). The glycemic index measured by HbA1c and fasting glucose did not differ significantly between both groups. Conclusion: This study concluded the anti-inflammatory and anti-lipemic role of statin in coronary artery disease patients as reflected by significant increase of serum HDL-cholesterol. However, the insignificant effect of statin on serum hs-CRP concentration may need for longer period of its treatment.