THE EFFECT OF LOVASTATIN ON EARLY RESTENOSIS

The effect of lovastatin given before percutaneous coronary angioplast y (PTCA) on early restenosis was investigated in men with mild to mode rate hypercholesterolemia. Thirty-four hypercholesterolemic patients ( serum LDL cholesterol 130-200 mg/dL) undergoing their first PTCA compl eted a B-month prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ei ghteen received lovastatin 20 mg/day (Lo group) and 16 placebo (P1 gro up), beginning 10 to 21 days before PTCA. All underwent a thallium-201 quantitative exercise test 5 to 7 days after PTCA. Endpoints for rest enosis were either 50% narrowing of the dilated artery on coronary ang iography, performed in symptomatic patients or, in asymptomatic patien ts, the appearance of newly developed reversible filling defects in th e vascular territory of the dilated artery on a second thallium scan d one 6 months after PTCA. The hypocholesterolemic change observed in th e Lo group was not accompanied by a reduction in early restenosis risk . The authors conclude that effective hypocholesterolemic therapy befo re PTCA does not affect early restenosis rate in men with mild to mode rate hypercholesterolemia.