BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) predict cardiovascular risk and may represent a target for treating and/or monitoring risk-reduction strategies. The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on CRP levels has not been adequately studied. METHODS: A total of 264 men and women, with CRP levels of 2 mg/L or greater and no history of cardiovascular disease, were enrolled in a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/day of ramipril (n=132) or placebo (n=132) for 12 weeks. The main outcome measure was the change in CRP levels from baseline to 12 weeks in the ramipril- versus placebo treated patients. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) age was 53+/-9 years (60% men). Baseline demographics were similar between the volunteers allocated to receive either placebo or ramipril. The geometric mean CRP at baseline was 3.84 mg/L (95% CI 3.62 mg/L to 4.06 mg/L). The percentage change in geometric mean CRP values over 12 weeks was --13.2% (95% CI --22.3% to --3.2% ) in the placebo group compared with --21.1% (95% CI --29.9% to --11.2%) in the ramipril group (P nonsignificant), indicating no significant reduction in the primary end point of the trial. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week ramipril treatment protocol for healthy middle-aged volunteers did not lower CRP levels compared with placebo. However, because of the inherent variability of CRP levels, a much larger study is required to exclude a small treatment effect.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) predict cardiovascular risk and may represent a target for treating and/or monitoring risk-reduction strategies. The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on CRP levels has not been adequately studied. METHODS: A total of 264 men and women, with CRP levels of 2 mg/L or greater and no history of cardiovascular disease, were enrolled in a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/day of ramipril (n=132) or placebo (n=132) for 12 weeks. The main outcome measure was the change in CRP levels from baseline to 12 weeks in the ramipril- versus placebo treated patients. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) age was 53+/-9 years (60% men). Baseline demographics were similar between the volunteers allocated to receive either placebo or ramipril. The geometric mean CRP at baseline was 3.84 mg/L (95% CI 3.62 mg/L to 4.06 mg/L). The percentage change in geometric mean CRP values over 12 weeks was --13.2% (95% CI --22.3% to --3.2% ) in the placebo group compared with --21.1% (95% CI --29.9% to --11.2%) in the ramipril group (P nonsignificant), indicating no significant reduction in the primary end point of the trial. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week ramipril treatment protocol for healthy middle-aged volunteers did not lower CRP levels compared with placebo. However, because of the inherent variability of CRP levels, a much larger study is required to exclude a small treatment effect.
Authors: Peter Bogaty; James M Brophy; Luce Boyer; Serge Simard; Lawrence Joseph; Fernand Bertrand; Gilles R Dagenais Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2005-01-24
Authors: E Lonn; S Yusuf; V Dzavik; C Doris; Q Yi; S Smith; A Moore-Cox; J Bosch; W Riley; K Teo Journal: Circulation Date: 2001-02-20 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Steven E Nissen; E Murat Tuzcu; Paul Schoenhagen; Tim Crowe; William J Sasiela; John Tsai; John Orazem; Raymond D Magorien; Charles O'Shaughnessy; Peter Ganz Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2005-01-06 Impact factor: 91.245