Statins in the first-line therapy of acute coronary syndrome – similar to aspirin? |
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| Authors: | Petr Ostadal David Alan Jiri Vejvoda |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Cardiology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Abstract: | Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs, highly effective in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. It has been found, however, that statins also have nonlipid effects; they can influence different pathways, which have been described to participate in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Inflammation or decreased production of nitric oxide are obvious targets for statin therapy. Recently, several large clinical trials have been published, showing safety and, in some areas, efficacy of administration of statins early after ACS. Furthermore, there is growing evidence from both experimental and small clinical studies that statin therapy may have favourable effects when started as soon as possible after the development of ACS. Confirmation of this approach by large randomized trials is needed; however, based on currently available data, statins have high chance of achieving a similar place in the first-line therapy of ACS as the pillar of contemporary therapeutic strategy, aspirin. |
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| Keywords: | Acute coronary syndrome Inflammation Myocardial infarction Nitric oxide Statin |
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