Effect of statins on coronary blood flow after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease

AIMS Statins have favourable effects on the vascular system. However, few data are available regarding the effect of these drugs on patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to determine the impact of prior statin use on coronary blood flow after PCI in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) by using the corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC). METHODS A total of 80 consecutive eligible patients (mean age: 60 ± 7 years, 65 % male) with the diagnosis of stable CAD who were hospitalised for elective PCI were retrospectively enrolled in our study. The study population was divided into two groups according to statin use at least 6 months before PCI. Group 1 comprised of 51 patients (67 % male; mean age: 58 ± 4 years) taking statins and group 2 comprised of 29 patients (62 % male; mean age: 60 ± 3 years) not taking statins. PCI was applied to de novo type A lesions. CTFC was calculated for the treated vessels at baseline and after PCI. RESULTS The two groups had similar characteristics in terms of age, sex, concomitant medications, lesion characteristics, pre-procedural CTFC, lipid parameters, and risk factors for CAD. Post-PCI CTFC (16 ± 3 vs. 22 ± 5, p = 0.01) and hs-CRP (2.1 ± 0.7 mg/l vs. 6.1 ± 2 mg/l, p = 0.01) in patients receiving statins before PCI were significantly lower than in patients without statin therapy. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that statin pre-treatment (OR 2.5, 95 % CI 1.2 to 3.8, p < 0.001) and hs-CRP level (OR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.2 to 2.4, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of post-PCI CTFC. CONCLUSIONS In patients with stable CAD undergoing PCI, receipt of long-term statin therapy was associated with improvement in epicardial perfusion after PCI.