Jt. Christenson, Preoperative lipid control with simvastatin protects coronary artery bypass grafts from obstructive graft disease, AM J CARD, 88(8), 2001, pp. 896
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a regularly used treatment modali
ty for myocardial revascularization. Progression of atherosclerosis results
in obstructive lesions in vein grafts,(1-4) and vein grafts have a high ea
rly graft occlusion rate.(3) Almost 50% of vein grafts show detectable obst
ructive lesions within the first year.(4) A recent prospective randomized s
tudy showed a significant reduction of postoperative graft complications in
patients with preoperative total plasma cholesterol > 240 mg/dl, when preo
perative lipid control was achieved using simvastatin.(5) Patients from tha
t study were followed clinically and underwent control angiography at 1 and
at 2 years after CABG to evaluate the progression of obstructive graft dis
ease.