Effect of rosuvastatin on neurological deficits and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of rosuvastatin in patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis. Methods From January 2013 to December 2013, 110 patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis were selected, and were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 55 cases in each group. The patients in control group were given aspirin as clinical drug therapy and the patients in treatment group were given rosuvastatin on the basis of control group. The lipid levels, carotid ultrasound changes, neurological improvement, changes in serum levels of inflammatory cytokines of the patients in two groups were compared and analyzed. Results Compared with the control group, the levels of cholesterol [(4.17±0.59)mmol/L], triglycerides [(1.72±0.22)mmol/L], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [(2.32±0.65) mmol/L] were significantly reduced, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [(1.93±0.42)mmol/L] was significantly higher in the treatment group after treatment(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the plaque size [(0.069±0.020)cm2], plaque thickness [(1.86±0.30)mm], the number of plaques [(3.15±0.81)], carotid intima-media thickness [(1.28±0.33)mm] significantly reduced in the treatment group after treatment, the differences were significant(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, NIHSS scores [(7.54±0.50) points] decreased significantly, while MoCA score [(25.78±3.15) points] increased significantly in treatment group after treatment, the differences were significant(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of hypersensitivity C-reactive protein [(2.24±0.96) mg/L], interleukin-6 [(48.54±10.27) ×10-6mg/L], tumor necrosis factor-α [(10.12±2.39) ×10-6mg/L] decreased significantly in treatment group after treatment, the differences were significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Rosuvastatin can enhance the clinical efficacy, improve the neurological function, reduce the inflammatory response for patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis. Key words: Cerebral infarction; Carotid atherosclerosis; Rosuvastatin; Neurological deficits; Inflammatory cytokines