High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels fall during statin therapy in HIV-infected patients receiving ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors.

HIV-infected patients are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the general population and are reduced by statin therapy. We examined the effect of pravastatin and rosuvastatin on CRP levels in 58 dyslipidemic HIV-infected patients. A 45-day course of either statin reduced the median CRP level from 3.0 to 2.4 mg/l (P < 0.001) with no correlation with changes in lipid parameters.