title: Impact of long-term statin treatment on coronary plaque composition at angiographically severe lesions: a nonrandomized study of the history of long-term statin treatment before coronary angioplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have found an association between treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors ("statins") and reductions in procedure-related complications in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of long-term statin treatment before elective PCI on coronary plaque composition at the angiographically severe target stenotic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This nonrandomized, observational study was conducted at Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. Data were collected from the electronic medical records of patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent PCI guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Patients were stratified into 2 groups: those who received long-term statin treatment for > or =6 months before PCI (statin group) and those who did not (nonstatin group). The tissue characteristics of the coronary plaque at each target stenotic site were analyzed using 3-dimensional integrated backscatter IVUS immediately before PCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 100 patients were included (91 men, 9 women; mean [SD] age, 67 [10] years; statin group, 44 patients; nonstatin group, 56). The clinical characteristics of the 2 groups were not significantly different, with the exception of the prevalence of hyperlipidemia (statin vs nonstatin, 100% vs 51.8%; P < 0.001). There were no significant between-group differences in serum lipid profiles. The statin group had a significantly greater mean (SD) percentage decrease in lipid volume (28.7% [10.0%] vs 34.7% [9.8%]; P = 0.003) and a significantly greater increase in fibrous volume (66.5% [8.5%] vs 60.9% [8.6%]; P = 0.001) compared with the nonstatin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found a significant difference in lipid and fibrous volumes in angiographically severe coronary stenotic lesions in these patients with stable angina who received long-term statin treatment before PCI versus those who did not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Ryuichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Mutsuharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Taiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Tadayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uetani
authors.forename: Tatsuaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murohara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors