To assess dynamics of marker of inflammation (C-reactive protein - CRP) and parameters of lipid metabolism at the background of 3-months course application of 2 standard variants of therapy with atorvastatin (40 and 10 mg/day) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) with moderate hyperlipidemia.
Patients of both sexes (n=64, 40 with IHD, 24 with RA, age from 45 to 60 years) with moderate hyperlipidemia and positive reaction to CRP were included into the study. Measures of efficacy of therapy with atorvastatin were percent changes of CRP, total (T) cholesterol (CH), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) CH compared with initial values.
Portions of patients with IHD and RA who achieved target LDLCH level < 2.6 mmol/l were 84 and 67% on atorvastatin 40 mg/day, 44 and 50% on atorvastatin 10 mg/day, respectively. Changes of blood serum concentrations of triglycerides and high density lipoprotein CH were insignificant in all groups. Most pronounced lowering of CRP took place in a subgroups of IHD patients with initially high CRP level (-20%) and patients with RA (-65%) to whom atorvastatin was prescribed in a dose of 40 mg/day. Changes in patients in other subgroups were not significant.
HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitor atorvastatin more effectively lowers concentration of CRP in blood plasma of patients with PA than with IHD what possibly is explained by higher initial level of this marker of inflammatory processes.