Impact of statin therapy on coronary intervention for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome with decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
OBJECTIVE
The benefits of treating patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with statins are well established. This study investigated the effects of statins on patients who presented with low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, were diagnosed with non-ST elevation ACS, and subsequently underwent percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).


METHODS
From 2000 to 2003, 87 patients(mean age 68 +/- 10 years, 69 males, 18 females) underwent PCI because of non-ST elevation ACS, and had low LDL cholesterol on presentation. These patients were divided into two groups: those who had been taking statins (S-group, n = 46), and those not taking statins, or controls (C-group, n = 41). Only patients whose LDL cholesterol was < 100 mg/dl at admission (average: 82 +/- 12 mg/dl) were included in the study. Troponin-T (TnT), creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, and high-sense C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured before and 6 hr after PCI. The two groups were evaluated at 6 months clinical follow-up.


RESULTS
There was no difference in these markers before PCI in both groups. TnT and CK-MB in the S-group at 6 hr post-PCI were significantly decreased compared to those of the C-group (0.45 +/- 1.34 vs 1.40 +/- 2.37 ng/ml, respectively, for TnT, p = 0.04; 17.2 +/- 45.5 vs 81.3 +/- 157.2 IU/l, respectively, for CK-MB, p = 0.02). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as death, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and target lesion revascularization were evaluated after 6 months. There was no difference in MACE between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Statin treatment before PCI in patients with non-ST elevation ACS demonstrated beneficial effects such as less myocardial damage, even though both groups presented with low LDL cholesterol levels. However, no significant effect on MACE was seen at 6 months after PCI.
Hara
Hidehiko
H
Minneapolis Heart Institute and Foundation, 920 East 28th Street Suite 620, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA. harahide@aol.com
Nakamura
Masato
M
Yokouchi
Itaru
I
Kimura
Keiko
K
Nemoto
Naohiko
N
Ito
Shingo
S
Ono
Tsuyoshi
T
Shiba
Masanori
M
Wada
Masamichi
M
Tsuji
Takahiro
T
Komatsu
Hirotaka
H
Iijima
Raisuke
R
Nakajima
Rintaro
R
Yamamoto
Masaya
M
Yamamoto
Masato
M
Yoshitama
Takashi
T
Takagi
Takuro
T
Hara
Hisao
H
Sugi
Kaoru
K
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors