Rosuvastatin improves myocardial function and arteriosclerosis plaque in patients with ST-segment elevation after acute myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin on the functions of the surviving myocardium and arteriosclerosis plaque in patients with ST-segment elevation after acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five STEMI patients were randomized to receive 40 mg simvastatin (n=32) or 10 mg rosuvastatin (n=33) before sleep in addition to conventional medications. Before PCI and after the 12-month medications, the plasma levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured, and echocardiography and (99)Tc(m)-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed to assess the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of 12 months, the patients in simvastatin group showed significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, CRP, TNF-α, and (99)Tc(m)-MIBI uptake fraction. In rosuvastatin group, these reductions were even more obvious; the intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was reduced significantly after a 12-month rosuvastatin therapy, but almost remained unchanged after simvastatin therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rosuvastatin therapy in addition to conventional medications can significantly reduce IMT and improve the functions of the surviving myocardium in patients with STEMI after PCI.</p>