Objectives: 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.