Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndromes: head-to-head comparison of lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects

Background. Hypercholesterolemia and inflammation both contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations. Statins, possessing both lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory properties, are currently recommended in all ischemic syndromes. Purpose. To compare the effects of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on lipid and inflammatory markers in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods. Two hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients with ACS, without familial hypercholesterolaemia and no statin treatment in the preceding 4 weeks, were randomly assigned within 24 hours after hospital admission to either atorvastatin 80 mg (119 patients) or rosuvastatin 20 mg (120 patients). Lipid and inflammatory markers were assessed before randomization and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. Results. Both statins similarly reduced total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol at 4 weeks, with substantial stability at 12 weeks. At 4 weeks, LDL-cholesterol decreased from 129 mg/dL to 71 mg/dL in atorvastatin group and from 126 mg/dL to 71 mg/dL in rosuvastatin group. Apolipoprotein B significantly decreased in both groups. Otherwise, apolipoprotein A1 increased in rosuvastatin group only. As a consequence, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio decreased more in rosuvastatin group. No significant differences were seen in triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and Lipoprotein (a) levels. Among inflammatory markers, hs-CRP, interleukin-6, interleukin 1-RA, TGF-β1, and MMP-9 significantly and similarly decreased at 4 and 12 weeks in both groups. Interleukin-10 levels decreased only in patients randomized to atorvastatin. Conclusions. A moderate dose of rosuvastatin provided similar effects, as compared to a high dose of atorvastatin, on a large series of lipid and inflammatory markers. Rosuvastatin was more effective than atorvastatin in reducing ApoB/ApoA1. Considering these findings, rosuvastatin 20 mg daily may be an alternative to atorvastatin 80 mg in acute coronary syndromes.