High-sensitivity C-reactive protein combined with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the targets of statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

To investigate the combination of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C as the targets for statin treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This single-center, prospective, randomized study was performed in 400 patients treated with atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 1 month and then with atorvastatin 20 mg/day as maintenance. The patients were randomized to the LDL group (LDL-C target of < 2.07 mmol/L according to the Chinese dyslipidemia guidelines) and to the LDL-CRP group (LDL-C target of < 2.07 mmol/L and hs-CRP target of < 3 mg/L). The patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 6, 12, and 18 months. The two groups had similar baseline characteristics and 391 patients completed the follow-up. No differences were found in LDL-C between the two groups, but a difference was found in hs-CRP at 12 and 18 months. There was a significant difference in revascularization (8.7% versus 3.6%, P = 0.04) and MACE (16.8% versus 9.7%; P = 0.04) between the LDL and LDL-CRP groups at 18 months. Compared to LDL-C as the single target, targeting both LDL-C and hs-CRP by statin therapy in patients with ACS could further reduce the incidence of MACE and the residual cardiovascular risk.