Patients treated with Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg had a significant 55 per cent reduction in levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), while those taking Lipitor 10 mg had a significant 21 per cent reduction in hsCRP levels at the end of 26 weeks compared to baseline, according to the results from the primary endpoint of a new study.

Patients in this study had stable coronary artery disease, normal to mildly elevated cholesterol levels and chronic low-grade inflammation as indicated by elevated levels of hsCRP, which studies suggest may play a role in determining cardiovascular risk. The findings, from the Comparative Atorvastatin Pleiotropic effects (CAP) study, were recently published in Clinical Therapeutics.

"These findings support results from prior clinical trials suggesting that, in addition to lowering LDL cholesterol levels, Lipitor may help reduce hsCRP, which reflects the systemic inflammation that might contribute to increased risk for cardiovascular events," said Dr. Jean Davignon, director of the hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis research group at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal and a principal investigator of the trial. "Even more encouraging was the fact that further reductions in hsCRP were observed with intensive Lipitor therapy versus a lower dose."

The CAP trial was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, 26-week study designed to examine the effects of low-dose versus high-dose Lipitor on hsCRP levels in men and women under the age of 80 with stable coronary artery disease, normal to mildly elevated cholesterol levels and chronic low-grade inflammation as indicated by elevated levels of hsCRP. The mean baseline hsCRP concentration was 3.1 mg/L and 3.6 mg/L in the Lipitor 10 mg and Lipitor 80 mg treatment groups, respectively. Coronary artery disease was defined by at least one of the following: history of heart attack, stable angina, coronary narrowing of at least 50 per cent, history of unstable angina and history of coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary angioplasty.

A total of 340 patients were treated with either low-dose Lipitor 10 mg or intensive Lipitor 80 mg therapy. The primary endpoint of the study was the percent change in hsCRP after 26 weeks of treatment with Lipitor 10 mg or 80 mg. Comparisons of hsCRP levels at five weeks were pre-determined secondary endpoints.

After five weeks of therapy, patients treated with Lipitor 10 mg had a significant 25 per cent reduction in hsCRP levels compared to baseline, and hsCRP levels remained stable at study end (21 per cent reduction). Patients treated with Lipitor 80 mg for five weeks had a significant 36 per cent reduction in hsCRP levels compared to baseline. These levels were reduced further at study end to a total reduction of 55 per cent. The effects of Lipitor on changes in hsCRP levels were dose dependent; high-dose Lipitor was associated with significantly greater reductions.

Reductions in hsCRP were largely independent of the significant reductions in LDL cholesterol that were also observed in both treatment groups. At 26 weeks, those treated with Lipitor 80 mg had significantly greater reductions in LDL cholesterol compared to those who received Lipitor 10 mg (51 per cent versus 35 per cent, respectively).

Both doses of Lipitor (10 mg and 80 mg) were generally well tolerated.

The study was sponsored by Pfizer and led by a joint Canadian/French steering committee. Patients were recruited from 65 sites in seven countries.