Reduction of C-reactive protein by a single 80 mg of sirnvastatin in patients with unstable angina

Background: Increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) became widely accepted as a risk factor of the higher incidence of coronary events, and rapid lowering CR-P by administration of drugs may produce early benefit to the coronary endothelium in patients with coronary heart disease and reduce angina and coronary events after revascularization. Limited information has been available, however, with respect to evaluating a potential effect of a single high-dose simvastatin on CRP in patients with unstable angina (UA) within 48 h. We investigated whether a rapid CRP reduction can be achieved by a single 80 mg of simvastatin therapy in patients with UA given immediately on admission. Methods: Forty-two patients with rest chest pain were randomly assigned to a single placebo or 80 mg of simivastatin given at the time of admission plus standard therapy. Blood samples were also drawn at the time of admission, and 48 h later for measuring serum CRP concentrations. Results: We found that 80 mg of simivastatin induced significant reductions in serum median CRP concentrations and in mean CRP concentrations 48 h later following administration of simivastatin (25.4% and 32.7%, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: A single high-dose simivastatin, given in the early time on admission, is an effective therapy for controlling inflammatory response in patients with UA, and the benefit to the vascular endothelium might occur quickly by reduction of CRP concentrations in this high-risk subgroup. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.