High sensitivity CRP Echocardiographic parameters: left ventricular ejection fraction (EF%), left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad 6 (GraphPad Software, Inc, La Jolla, CA, USA). Data were expressed as the median and interquartile range for quantitative non-parametric measurements, as the mean and SD for parametric data and as numbers and percentages for categorical data. The percent change after treatment between the two groups was compared using unpaired t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test. Fisher’s Exact was used to compare categorical data. A cutoff for p-value < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: BASELINE EVALUATION: