THURSDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with acute coronary syndrome, intensive statin therapy is associated with a significant regression of coronary atherosclerosis, according to a study published in the July 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Takafumi Hiro, M.D., of the Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine in Ube, Japan, and colleagues randomly assigned 307 patients with acute coronary syndrome to receive either 4 mg/day of pitavastatin or 20 mg/day of atorvastatin.
The researchers found that both interventions were associated with a significant mean percentage change (decrease) in coronary plaque volume, as well as with negative vessel remodeling.
"Therefore, the results provided support to the hypothesis that administration of statins after the onset of acute coronary syndrome has the potential to reverse the process of atherosclerosis, thereby improving clinical outcome," the authors conclude.
The study was funded with a grant from Kowa Pharmaceutical, and several study authors reported financial ties to Kowa and other pharmaceutical companies.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
