BACKGROUND: There is a residual risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) despite intensive statin therapy for secondary prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate whether coronary plaque regression and stabilization are reinforced by the addition of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to high-dose pitavastatin (PTV). METHODS: We enrolled 193 CHD patients who underwentpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in six hospitals. Patients were randomly allocated to the PTV group (PTV 4mg/day, n=96) or PTV/EPA group (PTV 4mg/day and EPA 1800mg/day, n=97), and prospectively followed for 6-8 months. Coronary plaque volume and composition in nonstenting lesions were analyzed by integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS). RESULTS: The PTV/EPA group showed a greater reduction in total atheroma volume compared to PTV group. IB-IVUS analyses revealed that lipid volume was significantly decreased during follow-up period in only PTV/EPA group. The efficacy of additional EPA therapy on lipid volume reduction was significantly higher in stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients compared to acute coronary syndrome patients. EPA/AA ratio was significantly improved in PTV/EPA group compared to PTV group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events and side effects. CONCLUSIONS:Combination EPA/PTV therapy significantly reduced coronary plaque volume compared to PTV therapy alone. Plaque stabilization was also reinforced by EPA/PTV therapy in particular SAP patients. The addition of EPA is a promising option to reduce residual CHD risk under intensive statin therapy.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: There is a residual risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) despite intensive statin therapy for secondary prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate whether coronary plaque regression and stabilization are reinforced by the addition of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to high-dose pitavastatin (PTV). METHODS: We enrolled 193 CHD patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in six hospitals. Patients were randomly allocated to the PTV group (PTV 4mg/day, n=96) or PTV/EPA group (PTV 4mg/day and EPA 1800mg/day, n=97), and prospectively followed for 6-8 months. Coronary plaque volume and composition in nonstenting lesions were analyzed by integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS). RESULTS: The PTV/EPA group showed a greater reduction in total atheroma volume compared to PTV group. IB-IVUS analyses revealed that lipid volume was significantly decreased during follow-up period in only PTV/EPA group. The efficacy of additional EPA therapy on lipid volume reduction was significantly higher in stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients compared to acute coronary syndromepatients. EPA/AA ratio was significantly improved in PTV/EPA group compared to PTV group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events and side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Combination EPA/PTV therapy significantly reduced coronary plaque volume compared to PTV therapy alone. Plaque stabilization was also reinforced by EPA/PTV therapy in particular SAP patients. The addition of EPA is a promising option to reduce residual CHD risk under intensive statin therapy.
Authors: John A McClung; Lior Levy; Victor Garcia; David E Stec; Stephen J Peterson; Nader G Abraham Journal: Pharmacol Ther Date: 2021-09-06 Impact factor: 12.310
Authors: Matthew Budoff; J Brent Muhlestein; Viet T Le; Heidi T May; Sion Roy; John R Nelson Journal: Clin Cardiol Date: 2018-01-24 Impact factor: 2.882
Authors: Abdulhamied Alfaddagh; Tarec K Elajami; Hasan Ashfaque; Mohamad Saleh; Bruce R Bistrian; Francine K Welty Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2017-12-15 Impact factor: 5.501