Rosuvastatin reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Statins reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but no clinical studies have investigated the role of statins in ischemia-reperfusion injury after PCI. Hypothesis: Rosuvastatin could reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with PCI. Objectives: We investigated the effects of rosuvastatin on ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome after PCI and evaluated short-term prognosis. Methods: Patients scheduled for emergent PCI were given either rosuvastatin for >= 6 months (10 mg/d, every night; n = 55) or no statins (control group; n = 65). Serum superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were determined before and after PCI, as well as left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume. Major adverse cardiac events were observed at follow-ups for 6 months. Results: Superoxide dismutase activity in the rosuvastatin-treated group was higher than that of the control group; serum levels of malondialdehyde were lower. BNP and hs-CRP levels in the rosuvastatin-treated group were lower than that of the control group. Four weeks after PCI, the left ventricular ejection fraction in the treatment group was higher than that of the control group, and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume was lower. At the 6-month follow-up, there was no difference in major adverse cardiac events between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Rosuvastatin before PCI reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome, which suggests the importance of application of rosuvastatin before PCI for early intervention.