Abstract:
Purpose: The effect of claritromycin added to atorvastatin in treatment of dislipidemia have been investigated and compared to the effects of atorvastatin monotherapy. Methods: 120 hyperlipidemic patients who met inclusion criteria were sampled from Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic of the Medical School Hospital in Sivas, Turkey and were randomized into two treatment protocols. Atorvastatin (40mg/day for 6 weeks) + Claritromycin (500mg/day for 2 weeks) treatment was given to patients in the first group. Atorvastatin (40mg/day) treatment was given to patients in the second group for 6 weeks. Lipid profiles, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP) were studied before starting treatment and repeated at the end of 6 weeks treatment period. The data analysis was performed by using descriptive statistics, Independent-Samples ‘t’ test and Paired Samples ‘t’ test. Results: The mean age of 60 cases in the first group was 53.40±2.25 years and it was 55.15± 8.4 years in the second group. Demographics of gender, the mean ages and pretreatment values of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, CRP and fibrinogen; the differences between two groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05). When the parameters were compared between two groups for the post treatment values, the differences were statistically significant (p0.05). The decrease in CRP and fibrinogen and increasing in HDL- cholesterol were higher in the first group compared to those in the second group. The decreasing in total and LDL cholesterol were higher in the second group compared to those in the first group. Conclusion: Adding claritromycin to the statin treatment in dislipidemic patients has nofavorable effect on total and LDL- cholesterol levels. However, it has a favorable effect on HDL-cholesterol levels CRP and fibrinogen. However, routine addition of antibiotics to statin therapy cannot be recommended at present.
Page(s):
174-177
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, Volume: 21, Issue: 2, Year: 2005