Reduction of Transient Myocardial Ischemia With Pravastatin in Addition to the Conventional Treatment in Patients With Angina Pectoris

Abstract

Background Lipid-lowering therapy reduces cardiac morbidity and mortality. Less is known about its potential anti-ischemic effect. Methods and Results In a 2-year prospective randomized placebo-controlled study, the effect of pravastatin 40 mg on transient myocardial ischemia was assessed. Forty-eight–hour ambulatory ECGs with continuous ST-segment analysis were performed in 768 male patients with stable angina pectoris, documented coronary artery disease, and serum cholesterol between 4 and 8 mmol/L (155 and 310 mg/dL). During the trial, patients received routine antianginal treatment. In the patients randomized to pravastatin, transient myocardial ischemia was present at baseline in 28% and after treatment in 19%; in the placebo group, it was found in 20% and 23% of the patients, respectively ( P =.021 for change in percentage between two treatment groups; odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.93). Ischemic episodes decreased by 1.23±0.25 (SEM) episode with pravastatin and by 0.53±0.25 episode with placebo ( P =.047). Under pravastatin, the duration of ischemia decreased from 80±12 minutes to 42±10 minutes ( P =.017) and with placebo, from 60±13 minutes to 51±9 minutes ( P =.56). The total ischemic burden decreased from 41±5 to 22±5 mm·min in the pravastatin group ( P =.0058) and from 34±6 to 26±4 mm·min in the placebo group ( P =.24). Adjusted for independent risk factors for the occurrence of ischemia, the effect of pravastatin on the reduction of risk for ischemia remained statistically significant (odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.91; P =.026). Conclusions In men with documented coronary artery disease and optimal antianginal therapy, pravastatin reduces transient myocardial ischemia. ( Circulation. 1996;94:1503-1505.)