Effect of two different doses of atorvastatin on anklebrachial index and hsCRP in patients with coronary heart disease

AIM:To compare the influence of two different doses of atorvastatin on anklebrachial index (ABI) and highly sensitive Creactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: One hundred and ten patients with CHD were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 55 patients in each group. Conventional treatment for CHD was carried out in both groups for 6 months but at different doses: 10 mg/day atorvastatin daily in one group and 40 mg/day atorvastatin daily in the other group. Serum lipid, ABI and hsCRP before and after treatment were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, TC, TG and LDLC levels in both groups decreased significantly (P<005 or P<001), whereas levels of HDLC were significantly elevated (P<005). Atorvastatin treatment group receiving 40 mg/day achieved a significantly better lowering of LDLC than the group receiving 10 mg/day atorvastatin (P<005). The hsCRP levels in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment (P<001), but patients treated with 40 mg/day atorvastatin had significantly lower hsCRP level than patients treated with 10 mg/day atorvastatin (P<005). After 6 months, a significant improvement in ABI was observed in both groups (P<001) but the improvement in the group receiving 40 mg/day atorvastatin was significantly better than in the group receiving 10 mg/day atorvastatin (P<005). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin improves ABI and decreases hsCRP serum concentration in patients with coronary heart disease; treatment with 40 mg/day atorvastatin is more effective.