Effect of early atorvastatin therapy on serum matrix metalloproteinase-9, c-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective To investigate the influence of early atorvastatin on matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods 58 patients of ACS were stratified by randomized, contrastive assigned to atorvastatin group(20 mg/d of atorvastatin for 3 days,n=30), or to the control group (no lipid-lowering drugs,n=28). The serum levels of MMP-9, CRP before and after treatment were detected. Results Levels of plasma lipid were not changed before and after treatment in both groups. Levels of serum MMP-9 and CRP in the atorvastatin treatment group significantly decreased(P0.01).There were no relations between the decrease percent of TC and LDL-C and that of MMP-9 and CRP. Conclusion Atorvastatin decreased plasma levels of inflammatory factors in the patients acute coronary syndrome, so it may benefit to plaque stabilization.