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Fluvastatin Reduces Myocardial Ischaemia in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: Presented at ISA

By Eurona Earl Tilley

KYOTO, JAPAN -- September 30 -- Fluvastatin therapy was shown to reduce the number of transient ischaemic episodes in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

In a study presented here September 29^th at the 13^th International Symposium on Atherosclerosis, Claudia Abletshauser, PhD, Medical Department, Novartis Pharma, Nurenberg, Germany, illustrated that the total ischaemic burden during a 48 hour electrocardiogram (ECG), was reduced from a median of 50.2 mm/min (mean 76.8 mm/min) to 0.0 mm/min (mean 32.1 mm/min) in patients treated with fluvastatin.

Dr. Abletshauser and colleagues studied 34 patients with CHD, a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level between 130 and 200 mg/dL, and at least 1 transient ischaemic episode within a 48 hour Holter monitoring period.

Patients did not receive statin therapy for 12 weeks prior to the beginning of the study, and underwent a dietary run-in period of 4 weeks. Eligible participants were treated with 40 mg of fluvastatin for a 12-week period in addition to their usual antihypertensive and anti-anginal medications.

The researchers used random codes for the tapes and kept records in an observer-blinded manner. One patient was removed from the study as a result of unstable angina pectoris.

Transient ischaemic burden was defined as ST-segment depression of 1mm or greater, and duration of 1 minute or greater. The results show that the median number of ischaemic episodes decreased from 2.0 to 0.0, and 60% of participants experienced total resolution of ischaemic episodes. The incidence of transient ischaemic episodes was reduced by nearly 80%, according to the researchers.

A comparison of each patient's lipoprotein level at baseline and at week 12 illustrates a 25% decrease in mean LDL cholesterol level, an 18% decrease in apolipoprotein B level, and a 5% decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level as a result of this therapy.

In closing, Dr. Abletshauser stressed that although lifestyle changes, including a healthier diet, may have slightly contributed to the findings, fluvastatin therapy significantly reduced myocardial ischaemia in patients with hypercholesterolaemia and ischaemic heart disease.


[Study title: Patients With Ischaemic Heart Disease Show Benefit With Fluvastatin Therapy During 48-h Ambulatory ECG. Abstract 1P-0020]

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