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C-reactive protein level following treatment and withdrawal of lovastatin in diabetic nephropathy.

INTRODUCTION
We aimed to evaluate the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) level changes at the beginning and after withdrawal of lovastatin therapy in patients with diabetic nephropathy.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy were enrolled in the study. Lovastatin, 20 mg/d, was administered for 90 days. Afterwards, Lovastatin was withdrawn for the next 30 days. Blood samples were obtained before the intervention, on the 90th day, and days 1, 7, and 30 after withdrawal of Lovastatin. Serum level of HS-CRP was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Alterations in lipid profile was assessed, as well, and compared with that of HS-CRP.


RESULTS
Serum level of HS-CRP was significantly reduced after 90 days of lovastatin therapy (P < .001). Then, the HS-CRP reached the pretreatment baseline level on the 7th day after lovastatin withdrawal and maintained until the 30th day (P < .001). Serum HS-CRP changes showed no significant association with lipid profile except for serum total cholesterol level (r = 0.9, P = .006) after 3 months of lovastatin therapy. Their association was re-evaluated after 7 days and 1 month of treatment withdrawal and no significant correlations were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that lovastatin decreases serum CRP level in patients with diabetic nephropathy, and 7 days after lovastatin cessation, CRP level increases again.