Preliminary study on the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in northern Han patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Depending on the stratification of risk factors, to observe the efficacy and safety of different doses of atorvastatin in patients of northern Han population with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Methods One hundred and sixty patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease, admitted from Oct. 2013 to Jan. 2014, were involved in present study, and they were divided into three groups according to the etiology and pathogenesis. In addition to routine treatment, three groups of patients were given 20mg (n=50), 40mg (n=50) and 60mg (n=60) atorvastatin, respectively. Lipids contents, liver function, renal function, muscle enzymes, high sensitivity C reactive protein (hCRP) levels, and NIH Stroke scale (NIHSS) score were determined respectively before treatment and before discharge from the hospital. Results Blood lipid levels were reduced in all the 3 groups, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol-C (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol-C (LDL-C) lowered obviously with significant difference among the 3 groups (P0.05). The highest compliance rate of LDL-C was observed in 60mg group. Compared with those before treatment, the mean levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were elevated, and that of total bilirubin (TBil) and direct bilirubin (DBil) declined after treatment (P0.05). The average level of creatine kinase (CK) was lowered (P0.05). NIHSS scores were decreased in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with no significant difference among the 3 groups (P=0.157). Conclusions Atorvastatin can safely and effectively reduce the blood lipid levels, improve the neurological deficits, and reduce the hCRP level to certain extent. Administration of 60mg of atorvastatin may result in highest compliance rate of LDL-C and the greatest degree of improvement of NIHSS. However, further study should be untaken to demonstrate if the long-term and high-dose medication of atorvastatin is safe and effective for ischemic stroke.