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Original Article
Volume 344:1959-1965 June 28, 2001 Number 26
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Measurement of C-Reactive Protein for the Targeting of Statin Therapy in the Primary Prevention of Acute Coronary Events
Paul M. Ridker, M.D., M.P.H., Nader Rifai, Ph.D., Michael Clearfield, D.O., John R. Downs, M.D., Stephen E. Weis, D.O., J. Shawn Miles, M.D., Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., M.D., D.Phil., for the Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study Investigators

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 by Munford, R. S.

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ABSTRACT

Background Elevated levels of C-reactive protein, even in the absence of hyperlipidemia, are associated with an increased risk of coronary events. Statin therapy reduces the level of C-reactive protein independently of its effect on lipid levels. We hypothesized that statins might prevent coronary events in persons with elevated C-reactive protein levels who did not have overt hyperlipidemia.

Methods The level of C-reactive protein was measured at base line and after one year in 5742 participants in a five-year randomized trial of lovastatin for the primary prevention of acute coronary events.

Results The rates of coronary events increased significantly with increases in the base-line levels of C-reactive protein. Lovastatin therapy reduced the C-reactive protein level by 14.8 percent (P<0.001), an effect not explained by lovastatin-induced changes in the lipid profile. As expected, lovastatin was effective in preventing coronary events in participants whose base-line ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was higher than the median ratio, regardless of the level of C-reactive protein (number needed to treat for five years to prevent 1 event, 47; P=0.005). However, lovastatin was also effective among those with a ratio of total to HDL cholesterol that was lower than the median and a C-reactive protein level higher than the median (number needed to treat, 43; P=0.02). In contrast, lovastatin was ineffective among participants with a ratio of total to HDL cholesterol and a C-reactive protein level that were both lower than the median (number needed to treat, 983; P=0.87).

Conclusions Statin therapy may be effective in the primary prevention of coronary events among persons with relatively low lipid levels but with elevated levels of C-reactive protein.


Source Information

From the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (P.M.R., N.R., J.S.M.); the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth (M.C., S.E.W.); Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Tex. (J.R.D.); and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York (A.M.G.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Ridker at the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Ave. E., Boston, MA 02215, or at pridker{at}partners.org.

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