title: Acute effects of statin therapy on coronary atherosclerosis following an acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: No data exist on the acute effects of statin therapy on human coronary atherosclerotic plaques. The objective of our study was to evaluate the early (<2 months) effects of newly initiated statin therapy on coronary atherosclerosis as evaluated by intravascular ultrasonography. The study population consisted of 74 patients (mean age 58 +/- 8 years) who had been included in the ERASE trial (evaluating the effects of reconstituted high-density lipoprotein infusions). All patients underwent serial intravascular ultrasonographic (IVUS) evaluation at baseline (3 +/- 2 days after an acute coronary syndrome [ACS]) and after 6 +/- 1 weeks of follow-up. Statin therapy was initiated after ACS in 36 patients who received < or =1 dose of statins before baseline IVUS examination (newly initiated statin therapy group), and 38 patients were already on a stable statin dose before the ACS (long-term statin therapy group). Atorvastatin at a dose of 40 mg/day was the most common regimen in the 2 groups. Percent changes in atheroma volume (prespecified primary efficacy parameter) were -4.71 +/- 0.96% in the newly initiated statin therapy group (p <0.0001) and -0.54 +/- 0.89% in the long-term statin therapy group (p = 0.546; p = 0.002 for comparison between groups). Median nominal changes in atheroma volume were -9.10 mm(3) (interquartile range -12.56 to -3.73, p <0.0001 vs baseline) and 1.21 mm(3) (interquartile range -6.41 to 3.76, p = 0.429 vs baseline) in the newly initiated and long-term statin therapy groups, respectively (p = 0.003 for comparison between groups). Greater decreases in total cholesterol (r = 0.25, p = 0.035), ratio of total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.28, p = 0.018), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = 0.31, p = 0.046, for patients with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein measurements within 7 days after IVUS examination) were associated with larger percent changes in atheroma volume. In conclusion, newly initiated statin therapy is associated with rapid regression of coronary atherosclerosis within 2 months. This effect was in part associated with decreases in atherogenic lipid and inflammatory parameters. These results provide insight into the rapid clinical benefits of statin therapy after an ACS.
authors.affiliation: Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec, Canada. josep.rodes@crhl.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés-Cabau
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.forename: Mariève
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cossette
authors.forename: Olivier F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Reda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larose
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grégoire
authors.forename: Philippe L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: L'allier
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Guertin
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin