Abstract
Purpose: To study the effect of a combination of atorvastatin calcium with Salviae miltiorrhizae and ligustrazine hydrochloride injection on serum levels of ferritin (SF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α) in cerebral infarction patients. Methods: A total of 60 cerebral infarction patients (confirmed by CT or MRI scan) were randomly assigned to control group and observation group (30 patients/group). Both groups received routine treatments. All patients took atorvastatin calcium, but those in the observation group were treated with Salviae miltiorrhizae and ligustrazine hydrochloride injection, in addition to atorvastatin hydrochloride for 14 days, with 7 days as treatment course. The levels of SF, CRP and HIF-1α were determined before and after treatment, to assess clinical efficacy and safety. Results: In both groups, SF, CRP and HIF-1α levels were lower after treatment than before treatment (p < 0.05). NIHSS score and platelet activation indices were also significantly reduced, relative to control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of atorvastatin calcium with Salviae miltiorrhizae and ligustrazine hydrochloride injection can control vascular inflammatory reactions by decreasing the levels of SF, CRP and HIF-1α. Thus, it may be beneficial in the clinical management of cerebral infarction. Keyword: Cerebral infarction, Atorvastatin calcium, Salviae miltiorrhizae , Ligustrazine hydrochloride injection
Highlights
Stroke is one of the top three fatal diseases worldwide, and 87 % of stroke incidents are due to cerebral infarction [1]
The levels of Serum ferritin (SF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in the two groups were decreased after treatment (p < 0.05; Table 1)
The efficacy of treatments in both groups was evaluated according to the efficacy assessment criteria of neurological impairment in stroke patients drafted by the Fourth National Conference on Cerebrovascular Diseases i.e. basically cured = decrease in National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥ 90 %, with no disability; excellent = decrease in NISS score > 45 % but < 90 %, with disability grades of I –III; effective = decrease in NIHSS score >17 % but ≤ 45 %; and ineffective = decrease in NIHSS score ≤ 17 % or an increase in NISS score
Summary
Stroke is one of the top three fatal diseases worldwide, and 87 % of stroke incidents are due to cerebral infarction [1]. Cerebral infarction is associated with high mortality and morbidity [2]. The predisposing factors for cerebral infarction are atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, smoking and alcohol consumption [3]. Cerebral infarction usually occurs within the age range of 40 - 70 years old, its trend in recent years appear to involve younger individuals. Patients who were on antiplatelet, anticoagulant or thrombolytic drugs, and patients who reacted adversely to atorvastatin calcium, Salviae miltiorrhizae and ligustrazine hydrochloride injection were not included. Other excluded patients were those with vital organ dysfunction, and patients who were unable to complete the study due to poor compliance
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