ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the influence of the combination therapy of probucol with atorvastatin on levels of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), and marix metallopro? teinase-9 (MMP-9) and resolution of carotid plaque in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods One hun? dred-six patients with acute cerebral infarction who had carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound-confirmed atherosclerot? ic plaques , were included in the present study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: conventional treat? ment group ( 40 cases) which received atorvastatin (20mg/d) and co-treatment group (40 cases) which received Atorvas? tatin (20mg/d) and Probucol (500mg/d). Levels of hs-CRP, ox-LDL and MMP-9 were detected in all patients before treat? ment and 1, 6 and 12 months after drug therapy. The Intima-media thickness, area and numbers of carotid plaques were evaluated by using Doppler ultrasonography during a 12 months follow-up period. Results ① Serum hs-CRP and MMP-9 levels were significantly decreased at 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment, (conventional treatment group:t =14.662, 23.586, 28.179 and co-treatment group:t =47.023, 50.239, 50.774,P 0.05) at 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Serum hs-CRP, ox-LDL and MMP-9 levels were significantly lower in com? bined treatment group than in the conventional treatment group at all time points after treatment (t =7.655, 5.271, 2.492, t =4.927, 3.772, 4.673 andt =16.862, 4.251, 2.045.P 0.05). The IMT, plaque area and plaque numbers were significantly smaller in combined treatment group than in conventional treatment group (t =6.117, 3.290, 2.158,P <0.05). Conclusions The combination therapy of probucol with atorvastatin can greatly reduce levels of serunl hs-CRP,ox-LDL and MMP-9, indicating that the combination therapy has a strong anti-oxidant function, thereby reversing and stabilizing the atherosclerosis plaque.