The effect of atorvastatin on serum myeloperoxidase and CRP levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background: Inflammation is involved in the atherogenesis and pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). As the acute-phase reaction proteins in ACS, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) may play critical roles. Anti-inflammation may be one of benefits of statin drugs in ACS. Studies have showed that statins can suppress serum CRP concentrations. However, whether statins also reduce serum MPO concentrations in patients with ACS is unknown. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with ACS were randomly separated into Group A and Group B, the patients in Group A receiving conventional therapy, which include no cholesterol-lowering drugs, +atorvastatin (10 mg/day, n=40), the patients in Group B receiving conventional therapy (n = 38). The serum concentrations of MPO were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and CRP were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay. Results: Serum concentrations of MPO were significantly lower after I-week therapy in both groups of patients [Group A from 590 +/- 168 to 496 +/- 154 mu g/l, Group B from 570 +/- 165 to 521 +/- 153 mu g/l; P < 0.01, respectively]. Serum concentrations of CRP also were markedly lower than pretreatment [Group A from 6.56 +/- 1.87 to 5.14 +/- 2.07 mg/l; Group B from 6.36 +/- 1.94 to 5.45 +/- 1.90 mg/l, P < 0.05, respectively]. Compared with conventional therapy alone, atorvastatin significantly further reduced serum MPO [P=0.014] and CRP concentrations [P=0.032]. There were no correlations detected between the reduction of MPO and CRP (r=0.124, P=0.068). Conclusions: Atorvastatin reduced serum MPO and CRP concentrations in patients with ACS. These effects may explain some clinical benefits of statins in the treatment of these patients. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.