Effect of cholesterol reduction on myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary disease.
BACKGROUND: Cholesterol lowering is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study sought to determine whether cholesterol lowering also results in a reduction of myocardial ischemia during daily life. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 40 patients with proven coronary artery disease, total serum cholesterol between 191 and 327 mg/dL, and at least one episode of ST-segment depression on ambulatory ECG monitoring. Twenty patients were randomized to an American Heart Association Step 1 diet plus placebo (placebo group) and 20 to the same diet plus lovastatin (treatment group). Serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels and ambulatory monitoring were repeated after 4 to 6 months of therapy. The two groups were comparable with respect to baseline characteristics, number of episodes of ST-segment depression, and baseline serum cholesterol levels. The treatment group had lower mean total and LDL cholesterol levels at study end and experienced a significant reduction in the number of episodes of ST-segment depression compared with the placebo group. ST-segment depression was completely resolved in 13 of 20 patients (65%) in the treatment group versus 2 of 20 (10%) in the placebo group. The treatment group exhibited a highly significant reduction in ischemia (P < .001). By logistic regression, treatment with diet and lovastatin was an independent predictor of ischemia resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol lowering with lovastatin appears to be effective in eliminating myocardial ischemia during daily life in a significant proportion of patients.[1]References
- Effect of cholesterol reduction on myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary disease. Andrews, T.C., Raby, K., Barry, J., Naimi, C.L., Allred, E., Ganz, P., Selwyn, A.P. Circulation (1997) [Pubmed]
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