Effect of Atorvastatin on clinical symptoms and laboratory markers of patients with cholecystitis: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

Adopting a suitable strategy to reduce the complications of cholecystectomy plays a significant role in the well-being of patients. We investigated the effects of atorvastatin on clinical symptoms, and inflammatory markers of patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand in 2021. In this study, 47 patients received 40 mg atorvastatin (intervention group) and 47 patients received placebo both daily for 4 weeks (placebo group). Then, the frequency of fever, abdominal pain, and nausea before and after cholecystectomy, as well as peri-operative data (duration of operation, and intraoperative bleeding) and laboratory data [White Blood Count (WBC), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Aspartate AminoTransferase (AST), and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALT)] was collected. The data was analyzed using (SPSS Version 22) based on chi-squared, and independent t-tests at the significance level of (P≤0.05).

The duration of hospitalization was not significantly different in both groups (P=0.26), however, the duration of operation was significantly longer in the intervention group (P<0.001). The frequency of fever, abdominal pain, and nausea after cholecystectomy was not statistically different (P>0.05). The volume of intraoperative bleeding in the placebo group was more than the intervention group (P=0.05). The decrease of WBC, CRP, and the ALT levels after cholecystectomy was not statistically different (P>0.05); however, AST level after cholecystectomy was higher in the intervention group (P=0.05).

The use of atorvastatin effectively reduced the volume of intraoperative bleeding. However, this intervention with this dose and duration could not have a significant role in reducing the duration of patients’ hospitalization, duration of operation, and levels of WBC, CRP, ALT, and AST.