The Effect of Lovastatin on Early Restenosis

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Abstract
The effect of lovastatin given before percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on early restenosis was investigated in men with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. Thirty‐four hypercholesterolemia patients (serum LDL cholesterol 130–200 mg/dL) undergoing their first PTCA completed a 6‐month prospective, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Eighteen received lovastatin 20 mg/day (Lo group) and 16 placebo (P1 group), beginning 10 to 21 days before PTCA. All underwent a thallium‐201 quantitative exercise test 5 to 7 days after PTCA. Endpoints for restenosis were either 50% narrowing of the dilated artery on coronary angiography, performed in symptomatic patients or, in asymptomatic patients, the appearance of newly developed reversible filing defects in the vascular territory of the dilated artery on a second thallium scan done 6 months after PTCA. The hypocholesterolemic change observed in the Lo group was not accompanied by a reduction in early restenosis risk. The authors conclude that effective hypocholesterolemic therapy before PTCA does not affect early restenosis rate in men with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.