Effects of simvastatin on blood levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with unstable angina post percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective To investigate the effect of simvastatin on blood levels of high-sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with unstable angina post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Method Eighty patients who underwent PCI from January 2007 to August 2008 in our hospital were randomised into two groups: control group and simvastatin group (40 mg/day). Serum levels of hs-CRP, and IL-6 were measured before and after one week treatment and at 24 h after PCI. Results The serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 in simvastatin group were distinctly lower than those in control group before (p<0.05) and after the PCI (p<0.05), respectively. Conclusions The result suggested that PCI could lead to a detectable increase in serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 in patients with coronary heart disease; Simvastatin could significantly decrease the serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 in patients with coronary heart disease; Simvastatin could also decrease the serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 in patients with PCI.