Rosuvastatin combined with ezetimibe decreases myocardial injury in acute coronary syndrome patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) are potential biomarkers for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Statins are effective in preventing elevation of biomarkers of myocardial infarction (MI) after elective coronary stent implantation. In this paper, we report the dual effect of rosuvastatin with ezetimibe in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by measuring the levels of myocardial biomarkers and inflammation factors. Methods: After PCI in patients with ACS, the effects on levels of cardiac troponin I was examined. The hs-CRP and PAPP-A levels at baseline and after a 12-week course of rosuvastatin (Rosuva) with ezetimibe (Ez) (10/10 mg qN; 70 patients) versus rosuvastatin alone (10 mg qN; 70 patients) were evaluated. Peripheral blood samples were taken within 24 h of admission to hospital and after 12 weeks of drug administration. Results: Elevations of cTnI >5 times ULN after PCI procedure occurred in 17 (24.3%) patients in the Rosuva/Ez group and 23 (32.9%) in the Rosuva group (pearson Chi-Square value =100.9, P=0.0001). The hs-CRP levels were significantly reduced in both groups, but the reductions were not significantly different between the Rosuva/Ez and Rosuva alone group (5.72±1.38 mg/L to 5.26±0.81 mg/L, P>0.05) after 12 weeks compared with baseline levels. PAPP-A levels also decreased in both the Rosuva/Ez group (from 19.32±9.16 to 6.31±2.02 mIU/L) and the Rosuva group (from 20.24±8.73 to 10.21±3.07 mIU/L) after 12 weeks, compared with baseline levels. However, a greater reduction of PAPP-A levels was observed in the Rosuva/Ez group (13.51±4.77 mIU/L) compared with the Rosuva group (9.33±5.46 mIU/L). Conclusion: Rosuva/Ez treatment was more effective than treatment with Rosuva alone in decreasing myocardial injury and inflammatory factors after PCI.